The Hindu : Rs. 20 cr. to revitalise agriculture

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 24, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Rs. 20 cr. to revitalise agriculture

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 23. The Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, has earmarked Rs. 10.80 crores for sustainable development of rice-based farming system and Rs. 9.75 crores as part of the Government's continuing efforts to revitalise the traditional areas of the State's agriculture.

The Finance Minister said in his budget speech that he would be providing Rs. 1 crore for a new scheme to promote organic farming and Rs. 4 crores for the establishment of modern laboratories as part of a pilot project on agro-vision district support system meant for modernising agriculture.

Another major thrust area is the promotion of hi-tech innovative agriculture, which has got Rs. 81 lakhs in the budget. With a view to boosting agriculture exports, he has proposed setting up of agro-export zones for spices, medicinal plants and floriculture with a budget provision of Rs. 5.1 crores. In addition, he said he had provided Rs. 1.50 crores for the development of a sustainable agricultural trade security system.

The participatory development model for increasing vegetable and fruit production would be extended to two more districts with a Rs. 4-crore allocation. The Finance Minister has also set apart Rs. 5 crores for the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre for implementing a project in association with ISRO.

Even while promoting traditional cultivation, the Finance Minister has bestowed attention to new crops such as vanilla, which has by now become a mainstay in the farming sector. He has provided a budgetary allocation of Rs. 2 crores for implementing a package of measures to encourage vanilla cultivation.

The Finance Minister has allocated Rs. 16.60 crores for strengthening veterinary services. A sum of Rs. 6.65 crores has been allotted for the expansion of crossbreeding facilities, Rs. 2 crores for various dairy development activities.

The Kerala Livestock Development Board will get Rs. 15 lakhs for implementing a scheme to upgrade and protect the indigenous Malabari goats.

As for fisheries sector, the Finance Minister said the Government proposed to promote self-help groups and micro-enterprises among the fish folk, especially women. For this, he has earmarked Rs.1 crore. He has kept aside Rs. 3.5 crores as the State's contribution to the National Fishermen Welfare Fund for providing off-season relief to fishermen community and Rs. 3 crores for the Fund's housing scheme.

A sum of Rs. 6 crores has been set aside for the completion of the fishing harbours in Kayamkulam, Muthalapozhi, Koilandy and Ponnani. Inland fisheries projects in Kuttanad and Pokkali fields in Ernakulam would get Rs. 1.20 crores and Rs.1.25 crores respectively.

More funds for KSTP

The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) would get a higher allocation during 2004-05 with the Finance Minister announcing a Rs. 200-crore allocation in his budget speech.

The Minister said that the transport project would be implemented with greater vigour. Similarly, Rs. 39.8 crores would be spent on roads under the control of the PWD.

The Pullepady-Thammanam road would be extended to connect the Airport-Seaport road near the Kochi Special Economic Zone.

The budget provision for this is Rs 2 crores.

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