<div>A farmer, who was worried about the 14,000 kg of ash gourd that was harvested by him at Badiadka in Kasargod district, has received a helping hand from Kerala Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar.</div>.<div>The help from the Minister came after the plight of the farmer, Bykunje Shankaranarayana Bhat, was highlighted and shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. </div>.<div>On learning the plight of the farmer, the Minister acted immediately and directed Horticorp (Horticultural Products Development Corporation) to procure the entire lot.</div>.<div>The Minister also spoke to Bhat over phone. In a Facebook post, Water Conservation Expert and 'Adike Pathrike' Editor Shree Padre said, “Such farmer-friendly gestures will remain long in memory. Hats off to Hon’ble Agri Minister VS Sunil Kumar!.”<br /><br />The Horticorp officials also visited Bhat’s house and have promised to buy ash gourd at the earliest.<br /><br />Following the lockdown, Bhat was unable to find a market for the ash gourd cultivated by him.</div>.<div>Bhat has expressed his profound thanks to Minister V S Sunil Kumar, Horticorp and thousands of people who had stood behind him and shared his plight on social media.</div>
<div>A farmer, who was worried about the 14,000 kg of ash gourd that was harvested by him at Badiadka in Kasargod district, has received a helping hand from Kerala Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar.</div>.<div>The help from the Minister came after the plight of the farmer, Bykunje Shankaranarayana Bhat, was highlighted and shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. </div>.<div>On learning the plight of the farmer, the Minister acted immediately and directed Horticorp (Horticultural Products Development Corporation) to procure the entire lot.</div>.<div>The Minister also spoke to Bhat over phone. In a Facebook post, Water Conservation Expert and 'Adike Pathrike' Editor Shree Padre said, “Such farmer-friendly gestures will remain long in memory. Hats off to Hon’ble Agri Minister VS Sunil Kumar!.”<br /><br />The Horticorp officials also visited Bhat’s house and have promised to buy ash gourd at the earliest.<br /><br />Following the lockdown, Bhat was unable to find a market for the ash gourd cultivated by him.</div>.<div>Bhat has expressed his profound thanks to Minister V S Sunil Kumar, Horticorp and thousands of people who had stood behind him and shared his plight on social media.</div>
