Kerala - Alappuzha   

Focus on farm sector

ALAPPUZHA: Focusing on the revival of the battered agricultural sector in the district, the annual budget of the Alappuzha district panchayat for the year 2008-2009 presented here on Tuesday shows an expected total income of Rs.279.29 crore and an envisaged expenditure of Rs.278.35 crore.

Apart from setting aside Rs.1.7 crore in the general project section for agrarian requirements and projecting an expected NABARD assistance of Rs.22.5 crore for the revival of the Marthandam, Chithira and Rani backwater paddy fields, the budget has made provisions for completing a project in association with Kudumbasree for procuring, processing and marketing paddy from Kuttanad.

The budget, presented by district panchayat president R. Nazar and which is projected to give a surplus of Rs.93.87 lakhs, also proposes purchase of harvesting and threshing machines, supply of mini harvest machines to women’s self help groups, establishment of Agro Service Centres to impart training to rural youth in maintenance of agricultural machines and encouragement of vegetable cultivation in the district.

Mr. Nazar said the district panchayat was also planning to approach the Central Food Research Institute (CFRI) to take up a project for processing and marketing of fruits and vegetables. Kudumbasree units would be encouraged in manufacture of coconut-based products.

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