Thodupuzha, 26-01-2010
The eight day long Karshikamela concluded here on Tuesday evening. About 1,25,000 people visited the exhibition stalls during the mela. Kerala Assembly speaker Sri. K Radhakrishnan inaugurated the valedictory session. In his inaugural address he said that Kerala must focus on an agriculture based economy. That will boost the overall economic growth of the state, he said. During the meeting he handed over the prices to the winners of various competitions held during the mela. Sri Shaji Mathew from Kottappara in Kannur district won this year's Karshaka Thilak award for organic farmers. The award includes Rs. 1 Lakhs and a 10 days trip to New Zealand.
Shaji, an organic farmer from Kannur, is crippled by polio since age 6. But he never let the disease cripple his morale and enthusiasm in life. He manages the five acres of land that he inherited from his parents. He does inter-cropping in his land and crops include, coconut, rubber, beetle nut, cocoa, nutmeg, pepper, coffee, cashew, mango etc. He also grows vegetables, banana, tapioca, yam etc. Along with cattle, poultry and rabbits he does fish farming and honey. He produces his own organic fertilizers and earthworm compost. He also manages a plant nursery in his land. His yearly income from the land is over Rs. 5 Lakhs.
Sri P J Joseph presided over the meeting. Sri K K Jayachandran MLA, Sri Roshy Augustine MLA, Sri. M M Mani, K K Sivaraman, Sri P C Joseph ex MLA, Adv. E K Joseph, Sri. A P Thomas, Sri M A Joseph, Sri Stephen Sreekara, Sri Michael Augustine and Smt. Lovely Philip gave speaches.
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