To Ari | A group of farmers sent by the Department of Agriculture to Israel to learn new farming methods has returned. Landed at Nedumbassery at 3.30 am today. Agriculture department officials received the team. The group went for a week’s study on the 12th. Meanwhile, one of the group drowned in Israel. Baiju Kuryan, a native of Kannur Iriti, is missing.
They visited 16 regions and returned home after seeing innovative farming methods. Since 2018, the agriculture department had been trying to send a team, but it was stuck in a thread. Permission was given for the trip in October. The group was selected by accepting online applications from the farmers in December after contacting the Consulate of Israel in Bengaluru and passing visas for 30 people.
There was uncertainty about the trip, but following the Chief Minister’s suggestion that only farmers should go, the minister and others withdrew. The team was sent to increase the number of farmers. Two crore rupees have been earmarked for the trip. It is planned to make them master trainers. They are also members of the Agriculture Department’s Vaiga scheme. The team was led by B Ashok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture.
The traveling party did not get any further information about Baiju Kurien. He disappeared from the group on Thursday night. He took the passport and clothes from the room and disappeared. After his disappearance, the gang members and the Israeli police launched a midnight search but were unable to find him. Then when he contacted his family, it became clear that he had gone into hiding and was in a safe place. But relatives are not ready to file a missing complaint and the reason is confirmed as absconding.
Immediately upon his arrival in Israel, he devalued the Israeli currency to the equivalent of 50,000 Indian rupees. He had also acquired dollars at the Nedumbassery airport. It is customary for those who come from India on a tourist visa to work remotely and get a refugee visa. For that, there are agents in Israel including Malayalis. But the consulate employee said that it is difficult to get a refugee visa as there is a complaint against Baiju in the consulate and the police. The Israeli government allows such visas to stay on their own for a maximum of ten years.