Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture minister V. S. Sunil Kumar has directed officials to check all depots storing pesticides following the death of two farmers engaged spraying it in Thiruvalla.
A week ago, a meeting he chaired had decided that those pesticides which have the red and yellow labels could be used only under the guidance of the respective agriculture department officials.
"Under no circumstances can these pesticides be sold directly by farmers. It should be recalled that various pesticides are used for separate issues that plague the plantation," he said.
The agriculture minister directed them to cancel their licence as well. The Elanjimoottil depot in Thiruvalla which sold the pesticide that killed two farmers got a stop memo.
He said the government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for developing 4500-hectare cashew nut plantation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Scheme.
In the pilot stage, Palakkad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts will get the focus. In Kasaragod, it will promote 1800 hectare normal cashew nut and in 500 hectares high-density plantation. Plantation Corporation of Kerala Ltd will be developing them.
