:: INAUGURATION
11 February 2010
 The exhibition of Annam National Food and Agro-biodiversity
Festival was inaugurated by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State
for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution,
Govt. of India. He stressed the need for technological
interventions to face the issue of food security.He has
suggested to include both technology and heritage to form a
balanced solution to meet the growing need of food production in
the country. The worshipful Mayor of Kozhikkode, Shri M.
Bhaskaran presided over the function and Shri A. Pradeepkumar
MLA was the chief guest of the function.
 Dr. Vandana Shiva, founder Director, Navdanya, delivered the
key-note address. She said, “This country is rich in
biodiversity and it is so diverse that no other country in the
world has such ecosystem diversity. Now this diversity is under
severe threat”. She narrated the calculated moves by the
multinationals to establish their monopoly in food and
agriculture sectors. She demanded the need for agro-processing
units in villages with the involvement of local communities,
especially women, to stop the ingression of new technologies and
chemicals into these sectors. “We need to discard the GM
technologies in order to ensure the health of the younger
generation and to fight for food security and food sovereignty.
We should realize the moves of corporate companies to supply the
junk food and drinks at a cheaper prize, while availing huge
subsides from our own government. Technologies must be assessed
in terms of health and environment” she added.
Dr. V.S. Vijayan, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board,
highlighted the need for continuous vigil on the introduction of
genetically modified crops in the country. Former Minister for
Environment and Forests, A. Sujanapal, Thayattu Balan, Dr. G.G.
Gangadharan, Dr. C. Sureshkumar, Prof. T. Shobeendran, Dr. R.
Ansari and K.C. Abu attended the inaugural meeting.
Valedictory Function
15 February 2010
 The
valedictory session of the Annam Festival was inaugurated by
Shri M.K. Raghavan, Member of Parliament from Kozhikkode. He
also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions
held in connection with the meeting. The meeting was presided
over by Shri Kunjahammed Kutty Master, District Panchayath
President. M.A. Johnson, Prof. Shobeendran, Dr. R. Prakashkumar,
Dr. C. Sureshkumar, Dr. A. Bijukumar and Dr. N.S. Pradeep spoke
on the occasion.
The trophies to the best pavilions in the Exhibition were
distributed in the function. Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala bagged
the first prize, and the second prize was shared by Coconut
Development Board and Coffee Board, while MSSRF bagged the third
prize. The special appreciation award was given to Thina for
displaying traditional food varieties of Kerala. The annam
declaration 2010, recommendations of the Festival, was released
during the occasion. |
