A cultural procession held in Thrissur as part of the conclusion of the Central Zone Agriculture Fair on Monday. THRISSUR: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said that the government aimed at creating at least 100 organic farming villages in the state by the end of the current financial year. He said that the organic farming villages would be established in three paddy growing districts of Alappuzha, Palakkad and Thrissur. He said this while inaugurating the valedictory function of the Central Zone Agriculture Fair which commenced here on October 16. The minister said that the global financial crisis is likely to affect the state agriculture sector seriously as except paddy, many of our agro products depended on export markets, especially the US market. He said that the financial crisis would considerably reduce the demand for our products in the US markets. For survival, our farmers should identify new export markets. He said that to identify such new markets and to market out produce there, the Central Government should extend its support to the state. He said that agriculture being a state subject, any agreement relating to agriculture entered into by the Central Government with any country should be after detailed discussions with states. Mullakkara said that there are clear indications of a revival of agriculture in the state. He said the farmers who had left the field are gradually coming back. However, to make these positive signs a reality, the farmers should have the support and wholehearted backing from the Agriculture Department and the Kerala Agricultural University. He said that inauguration of the green cards to paddy farmers will be held in Palakkad district on November 1. The function commenced with a cultural procession attended by farmers from five central zone districts in the state. Therambil Ramakrishnan MLA presided the function. District panchayat president Ambady Venu distributed prizes to selected farmers. G Surendran, Additional Director, Agriculture, welcomed the gathering and Principal Agricultural Officer P C Ravindranathan proposed a vote of thanks