Thodupuzha.info

DUBAI: The U.S. Embassy in Yemeni capital Sana’a was hit by a car bomb, rockets and gunfire on Wednesday morning. The attack left at least 16 people dead, including one Indian

A malayale, ms Rani Krishna is killed in the bomb blast in yemen. She is a BSc. nurse whose native place is thodupuzha studided in Bangalore ,work in Yemen just four months. Kerala pays condolence to here unfortunate destiny

Six security guards and an equal number of assailants also died during the attack. Hospital officials said the strike injured at least seven people. Witnesses said gunfire lasted 10 minutes. TV pictures showed smoke rising from the embassy area after the attack.

Mankulam to become first organic panchayat in the State

IDUKKI: Mankulam, a little-known panchayat in Idukki district, is all set to become the first organic panchayat in the State.

The project, to be completed in three years, will convert the panchayat into a chemical and pesticide free region.

The project, implemented by Kerala Agricultural Development Society (KADS) in association with Spices Board of India, Mankulam grama panchayat, Krishi Bhavan and Kudumbasree units, proposes to include 3,448 agricultural families in three years.

Under the project, farmers in the panchayat will be given certificates after the KADS conducts various tests that include soil testing and inspection by officials.

“It takes three years for a land to transform into the organic mode. A farmer is certified for organic cultivation only after getting C1, C2 and C3 certificates,” said project director P.J. Sebastian.

So far, 1,076 farmers have passed the C1 level. Spice Board and the grama panchayat will bear the cost of getting the organic certification to the farmers.

KADS has already selected 40 cocoa farmers in the panchayat, and have started procuring the organic product produced by them at a high price. When the panchayat turns fully organic in cultivation practices, the farmers are expected to get a 30 per cent in the cost of their produce. The major crops that are cultivated in the panchayat are pepper, coffee, cocoa, cardamom.

Mr.Sebastian said the panchayat was selected on the basis of its geographical advantage. The region is surrounded by forest on all sides, and cultivation is done without using pesticides or fertilizers as the soil is fertile. He said that a Kochi-based agency that provides organic certification will be approached to ascertain the chance of exporting these products.

KADS has selected Mankulam panchayat under the Idukki Organic Project and more areas will be brought under vegetable cultivation.