Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Government plans to raise paddy production

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Government is planning to increase paddy production in the State by 50 per cent during the coming one year by allowing subsidy and loan at a low interest rate to paddy cultivators.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said this while inaugurating a meeting here on Wednesday to announce the launch of a scheme of the Agriculture and Cooperative departments to provide loans to paddy growers.

The Chief Minister said that it would be possible to create wonders in the agricultural sector if the agriculture and cooperative departments joined hands. The agricultural sector, which was facing a severe crisis, had achieved a new dynamism as a result of the intensive measures taken during the last one year. It had been possible to check suicides by farmers to an extent.

A sum of Rs. 165 crore had been set apart for providing agricultural debt relief. The Vidarbha model package was being implemented in three districts and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in five others.

He claimed that Kerala was the first State to give loans at four per cent interest rate to paddy farmers. Two per cent concession in interest would be given in Alappuzha, Palakkad and Thrissur districts. He expressed the hope that paddy cultivation would get a fillip with the grant of concession in interest and the toning up of paddy procurement.

Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran, who presided, said that the schemes being drawn up by the Government were meant to benefit all those engaged in agricultural activities. He called for ensuring that the loans being given at a low interest rate to paddy and vegetable cultivators reached the actual beneficiaries. Committees consisting of the representatives of people and officials would be set up for the purpose. He warned of legal action against cooperative banks which did not follow the Government’s policy.

Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran announced the Government’s resolve to enforce the Land Utilisation Act in order to protect the remaining paddy fields. He also vowed to take steps to make available to the farmers promptly the financial assistance announced for them by the Government from time to time.

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