KOZHIKODE: A seed village will be inaugurated at Cherapuram and Kakuni watershed areas at Velam here soon.

The village, set up under the National Watershed Development Programme for Rain-fed Areas, will benefit agriculturists and dairy and poultry farmers.

The objective of the project is to make villages self-sufficient by supplying quality planting, poultry and dairy seed material to farmers and generate employment.

It is also provide infrastructure to agriculturists and reap the benefits of labour in the area.

The programme, funded by the Union Government in the Tenth Plan, is being implemented in Murichode watershed of Vadakara taluk.

K.N. Ebrayi, Agriculture Officer, Krishi Bhavan, Velam, said of the Rs. 6,000 allocated for developing a hectare of land, 50 per cent had to be disbursed for soil conservation and 20 per cent for agriculture development.

More than 7.5 per cent of the allocation would be available as a revolving fund to self-help groups.

Land development

Mr. Ebrayi said 720 hectares of land in Cherapuram watershed and 610 hectares in Kakkuni area had been selected for development.

Under the 20 per cent fund allocated for agricultural development, a project has been formulated as seed village. One acre of land has been taken on 15-year lease for infrastructure development for installing a copra drier and other equipment for value addition of coconut. Forty per cent of the profit from the project would be given to the landowners. An agriculture nursery is set up to collect and multiply elite cultivars of crops and make quality planting materials available to farmers.

The local elite cultivars of coconut, tapioca, yam, vegetables and medicinal plants will be collected and made available to farmers.

The nursery is being nurtured through self-help groups, including Kudumbasree and farmers, who will provide labour inputs in return of wages.

The dairy farm being set up will have two crossbred cows, and the calves will be distributed to the farmers.

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