Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Plan to double paddy production

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Agriculture Department plans to double paddy production in the State, Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran said here on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in connection with second anniversary of the LDF government, Mr. Ratnakaran said the plan was to increase the productivity from 2.5 tonnes to 5 tonnes a hectare.

Area under paddy cultivation would be increased from 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh hectares. Production was proposed to be increased from 6 lakh to 12 lakh tonnes a year in the first phase.

Agriculture polytechnics would be started to create a workforce capable of handling modern agriculture machinery. Sufficient machines would be made available from other States.

About 1000 villages would be organised for group farming of vegetables. Assistance would be provided to encourage vegetable cultivation in farms and homesteads. Besides, about 100 villages would be brought under an integrated farming project, he added.

Krishi Bhavans would be reorganised. The Horticulture Mission will take up projects costing Rs.174 crore this year. The State Horticulture Development Corporation would start hypermarkets in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister said.

A unit to procure and process honey would be started in Kollam district.

The Agro-industries Corporation would set up a white pepper unit capable of processing 300 metric tonnes a year. Kerafed would start a unit for making various coconut based products at Karunagapally. The Oil Palm India would set up a unit a capacity of 760 metric tonnes of palmolein a year, the Minister said.

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