SOUTH
Kerala Agriculture minister issued a stern warning to the students in the state on Thursday: those who fare poorly in agriculture will not pass the 10th standard from next year onwards!
Yes, he meant it.
The state government is going to introduce agriculture as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum from the 1st standard. "Now, students could pass 10th standard without knowing Malayalam, their mother tongue in Kerala. But from next year, no student will be allowed to pass without knowing or learning agriculture," Agriculture Minister VS Sunilkumar said in the State Assembly on Thursday.
There are plans to attract young generation, including IT professionals, into farming, the minister said. Crop specific-agro parks will be established in all districts in the state. The government has earmarked Rs.500 crores for the ambitious project.