Kerala to set up value added agriculture mission to boost farmers’ income

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 15 (KNN) The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to setup a ‘Value Added Agriculture Mission’ for the state farmers.

This move by the state government will help boost farmers’ income, agricultural productivity, product storage, product prices, revenue from value addition activities and other related incomes.

The mission would comprise of a governing body headed by the Chief Minister as the chairperson with the state ministers of Agriculture and Industry being vice-chairpersons, a statement issued from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.

The state ministers of Local Self-Government, Cooperation, Finance, Water Resources, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Power and Food would be the members of the governing body, it said.

As per reports, there will also be sub-working groups which would submit sub-action plans before the mission on issues like agro-industry and technology, knowledge sharing, capacity building, marketing and finance.

An officer from the Department of Agriculture will be appointed as the Chief Operating Officer, the statement added.

Earlier in August this year, the Kerala government had launched the Krishi Darshan programme to address problems faced by the farmers and guarantee prompt redressal.  (KNN Bureau)