Date:21/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/21/stories/2008062156760100.htm

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Guidelines for farming initiative

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Local Administration Department has directed grama panchayats to coordinate the People’s Plan Campaign projects and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) and launch a drive to increase the extent of paddy and vegetable cultivation in the State from October.

Guidelines have been issued for starting paddy cultivation, initially on 10 acres of land, in each panchayat and increasing the productivity of existing fields. Each panchayat should prepare a working calendar so that the entire project could be implemented in six phases. An action plan should be drawn up to identify fallow lands and make them cultivable.