Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Isaac calls for improved productivity

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has stressed the need for an integrated, scientific approach to improve crop productivity in the State and attract educated youth to agriculture.

Speaking after inaugurating a videoconferencing facility for farmers under the Samagra scheme launched by the district panchayat and the Kudumbasree Mission, he called for a coordinated scheme involving testing laboratories, post-harvest storage facilities, grading, processing and value addition.

He inaugurated the videoconferencing facility by interacting online with the president and members of the Perungadavila block panchayat.

Food Minister C. Divakaran said the government had embarked on a mission to reduce Kerala’s dependence on neighbouring States for milk, paddy and vegetables.

District panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan who presided over the function said unscientific farming practices and the absence of quality control, post-harvest technology and value addition were responsible for low crop productivity. “Despite the existence of 54 agencies in the agriculture sector, there have been no significant inputs or market intervention. Agricultural offices have turned into outlets for distribution of subsidy.”

He added that an experimental paddy farming scheme promoted by the district panchayat had achieved a yield of 3.82 tonnes per hectare, higher than the State average. “We are hoping to increase the yield to five tonnes per hectare. Similarly, the banana farmers selected for the Samagra scheme have reported a yield of 25 tonnes per hectare.”

Mr. Nagappan said the district panchayat had established three laboratories for soil testing, tissue culture and bio-control in the district. The facilities would become functional next month. He added that the videoconferencing network for farmers would be extended to all parts of the district.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition G. Karthikeyan, district panchayat vice-president B.P. Murali, Kudumbasree Mission Director Sarada Muraleedharan, Agricultural Production Commissioner K. Jayakumar, district coordinator of the Kudumbasree Mission L. Ravikumar and district panchayat secretary V.S. Santhoshkumar addressed the gathering.

The videoconferencing facility for farmers has been established at the Village Knowledge Centres in the Perungadavila, Nedumangad and Kilimanoor block panchayats in the first phase. The system will enable farmers to interact with agricultural experts and seek advice on cultivation practices, disease prevention and pest control and market intervention methods.

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