Kerala - Kottayam   

`Development agenda to focus on farm sector'

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: The Kerala Congress (Secular), which held a State-level leadership camp on the development package announced by the President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, has stressed the need to bring agriculture sector to the top of the development agenda of the State.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, party chairman T.S. John and Legislature party leader P.C. George said the two-day camp, which was exclusively devoted to the development strategy declared by the President , thought it fit to add three more focus areas to make the package comprehensive. They are, agriculture, traditional industries and a special package for the Dalit-Adivasi segments. The State Secretariat of the party which met later adopted these proposals, Mr. George said.

The party felt that there was no salvation for the State from its development predicament until the farm sector was given its due share, he said. Mr. George wanted not only support for value addition of agri-products, but also stress on diversification of the cash crops sector.

The issue of unemployment could be solved through strengthening the agriculture sector and the traditional industries, which together provide for more than 80 per cent of employment opportunities in the State, he said.

The KC (Secular) leader also stressed the need for a review of the Centre-State relations, especially in the financial sector.

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`Development agenda to focus on farm sector'

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