Government to set up welfare fund for farmers

Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunil Kumar informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the government proposed to form a welfare fund board for farmers.

Replying to the debate on the budgetary demand for grants for Agriculture, the Minister said that the present pension scheme for farmers would be brought under the board. The norms for eligibility would be revised. “We will give pensions to all farmers.”

Mr. Sunil Kumar asserted that the government would ensure that no farmer would commit suicide in the State because of government policies. Considering the impending drought, the government was taking steps to improve availability and conservation of water.

He announced that the procurement price for paddy would be increased. Conversion of paddy fields would not be allowed any more. Paddy production in the State had increased from 13 lakh metric tonnes to 1.96 lakh metric tonnes. The government was proposing to increase area under paddy from the current 1.97 lakh hectares to 3 lakh hectares.

Steps would be taken for sowing of paddy fields which are remaining uncultivated.  Traditional varieties of paddy would be revived. A seed bank would be set up at Kerala Agriculture University, Mannuthy.

He said that the government was preparing a marketing strategy for vegetables procured from all over Kerala through government outlets. An e-platform would be set up to facilitate excess produce in an area to markets elsewhere in the State.

After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demand for Rs. 1387.72 crore for the current year.