Actor Sreenivasan who has conveyed several messages to the people of Kerala through his films, wants to share something through his life this time. Having successfully completed paddy cultivation in his two-and-a-half acres of leased land at Kandanad for the second consecutive year, he says he wants to inspire the people of the state to revive agriculture. This season’s crop was harvested in his fields on Saturday.
“Many farmers quit paddy cultivation due to the fear of revenue loss. They are unable to bear the wages of the workers. Now, several machines are available for cultivation. These facilities should be utilised by the farmers to avoid losses,” he said.
Sreenivasan said excessive presence of chemical pesticides in the vegetables imported from other states prompted him to start this initiative.
“We are facing health hazards by consuming the toxic agricultural produces from other states. At this point, it is important to inspire the farmers in the state to be back into farming,” he said.
He said he has been strictly following organic farming. “I followed the zero-budget natural farming model advocated by agriculturist Subhash Palekar. I used cow dung as the main fertiliser,” he said.
He urged the state government and agricultural officials to take collective initiatives to revive the culture of farming in the state. “It is not new multi-speciality hospitals that we want but the lost glory of a culture that helped us stay healthy,” he said.
A public meet held as part of the harvest festival was inaugurated by Fisheries and Excise Minister K Babu. He said that the actor’s venture is a message to the youngsters in the state. “Sreenivasan used modern machines for cultivation and it will attract younger generation to the sector. The state government is taking many initiatives to revive agriculture in the state. However, if celebrities like Sreenivasan starts cultivation, the message will reach people easily,” he said.
He said that people from several parts of the district have already started cultivation inspired by the actor. “People have re-started cultivation in 132 acres of paddy field at Maneed and 300 acres at Kizhakambalam,” he said.
Sreenivasan’s wife Vimala, panchayat members B J Ravindran and Benny Thomas and Agricultural Assistant Director Kairali were present on the occasion.