PATHANAMTHITTA: Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran said on Saturday that around 1,000 hectares of unused paddy fields would be brought under cultivation soon. Presiding over a high-level meeting on the intensive paddy cultivation programme convened at the collectorate conference hall here, Mullakara said that 2,891 hectares of paddy fields remained unused in the district. The overall objective of the new programme is to double paddy production. For implementing the scheme, the Government will spent an amount of Rs 193 lakh, the Minister said. As part of the project, the paddy fields will be made ready for cultivation by September-end. To ensure smooth cultivation, canals, ponds and streams would be made operational. Seeds, fertilizer and insecticides would be made available immediately. Arrangements had been made for supply of seeds through the Seeds Authority and fertiliser through FACT, the Minister said. For agricultural machinery, Agro Industries Corporation and Raidco were asked to make available the required number of machines, he said. K K Shaju MLA, District Panchayat president Appinazhikathu Santhakumari, Agricultural Production Commissioner K Jayakumar, District Collector P C Sanalkumar, Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor K R Viswambharan, Kerafed chairman M Sukumara Pillai and Agriculture director Gangadharan were present on the occasion.