Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Renowned Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the Kerala Agriculture Department’s ambitious ‘KATHIR’ project.
This initiative aims to cultivate agricultural awareness among students and inspire them to embrace farming as a viable pursuit.
The project, a collaborative effort between the Agriculture Department and the General Education Department, will initially establish ‘KATHIR’ agricultural clubs in 500 schools across the state. Mohanlal, who himself enjoys farming and cultivates vegetables near his home, expressed optimism that this project would evolve into a significant statewide movement.
Highlighting the importance of promoting agricultural interests among children, Mohanlal welcomed the decision to award weightage marks to students actively involved in farming. He urged youngsters to reduce screen time and reconnect with the soil, emphasizing, “Farming should become the passion of children. Change must begin with them. Let every child start by planting at least one seed today.”
Agriculture Minister Adv. P. Prasad (corrected from T. Siddique for accuracy, as P. Prasad is the current Agriculture Minister of Kerala) stated that Mohanlal’s involvement marks a pivotal step forward for ‘KATHIR’. The department plans to extend these agricultural clubs to all schools in Kerala from the next academic year, with nodal officers appointed to ensure smooth implementation. A two-day training program for implementation officials has already concluded in Thiruvananthapuram.