Kerala - Kollam   

Schemes to rejuvenate farm sector

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: K.N. Harilal, Planning Board member, said here on Friday that measures were being taken by the State Government as part of the Eleventh Plan to bring about major changes in the agriculture sector.

Inaugurating a seminar here on Friday organised in connection with the 33rd State conference of the Association of Agricultural Officers, Kerala, Dr. Harilal said these changes, to be implemented through the Planning Board, chiefly comprised two flagship programmes.

The prime flagship programme was food security and a budgetary allocation for the purpose had already been made.

The aim of the programme was to augment paddy cultivation and production. Under the programme, steps would be taken to protect the existing paddy fields through an awareness campaign.

The programme comprised a 12-pronged strategy for promotion and increased production of paddy cultivation. As part of the same programme, steps, through the Animal Husbandry Department, would be taken to increase milk production.

He said statistics showed the economic growth rate of the nation and Kerala was high. But this was concentrated mainly in the service sector.

Those depending upon agriculture as a means of livelihood have been seriously hit, he said.

Dr. Harilal said procurement price of Rs. 8.50 on paddy declared by the State Government this year was a major boost for paddy cultivation.

It resulted in paddy procurement going up by 30 per cent.

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