Change attitude towards climate: C Radhakrishnan

Thrissur: Writer C. Radhakrishnan feels an attitudinal change in people is imperative for addressing the ill effects of climate change. Releasing a book on the topic at Sahithya Academy Hall here on Monday, he said the chemical fertilisers and pesticides, once seen as blessings, had now become a curse as their overdose killed the soil. "The greatest asset of our ancestors was faith in nature," he said. "The farming calendar followed even today is based on the climate and seasons."

Mr Radhakrishnan pointed out that advancements in farm science and climatology had failed to predict sudden changes or make appropriate modifications in the farming calendar. "If there has to be a change, it has to first occur in our mind. If a person doesn't change his mindset, his family won't, if families in a locality do not make a change, that location will not change, and the society will never change," he said. He congratulated those who planned and penned the book saying that it was the reflection of good thoughts.

The book contains articles by experts from different disciplines associated with agricultural science and edited by Dr R.M. Prasad, former professor of Kerala Agricultural University and published by Farm Care Foundation. Foundation vice-president Dr P.K. Rajeevan presided over the function addressed by Dr Michael Vedasiromany IAS, former KAU vice-chancellor Dr K.V. Peter, NABARD assistant general manager Deepa S. Pillai and farmers P. Surendran, E. Madhava, Dr R.M. Prasad and G. Sudarsanan.