Kerala - Kochi   

Pokkali rice brand to hit markets soon

KOCHI: The Agriculture Department is all set to market pokkali rice in a big way. Efforts are being made to launch a brand by the name ‘Organic Pokkali’ on the market shortly.

This was mentioned in a press release issued by the District Information Office here in connection with the second anniversary of the State government.

More than 280 hectares of fallow land was converted into land fit for farming during the previous year, the release said. Principal Agriculture Officer N. Vijayan said an additional 360 tonnes of paddy was produced during the period.

Horticulture development in the district received more attention during the previous year according to the figures of the Agriculture Department.

Mr. Vijayan said Rs.23.92 crore was devoted to the development of the sector in the district last year.

The amount was Rs.187 lakh the preceding year. The funds were utilised for the promotion of various projects related to organic farming, coconut growing, cashew farming, minor irrigation, etc. The fund was utilised to give productivity-based bonus also. Harithasree scheme, model farms, group farming in pokkali, agro-clinic and improvement of biogas system were also taken up.

Kerasree groups, 120 of them, were formed in the district for promoting coconut farming in 25 hectares each. Thirty-three model farms with coconut farming in five hectares each were also formed.

More than 39,000 farmers were made members of the Kisansree scheme, which aims at the protection of farmers who were dependent on agriculture land. In the first year of the State government’s tenure, Rs.25.53 crore was provided to the district under the project for giving free power for agriculture, the release said.

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