The Hindu : Front Page : Scheme to boost vegetable production

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
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Scheme to boost vegetable production

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Agriculture Department has drawn up a scheme to make the State self-sufficient in vegetable production.

The scheme envisages an additional production of 15 lakh tonnes of vegetables a year in the State by prompting, with incentives and technical support, at least 2 lakh farmers to take to vegetable cultivation, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The districts of Idukki, Wayanad and Palakkad will be declared as `vegetable districts.' During Vishu festival falling in April, the scheme will be launched on a pilot basis in Idukki district, he said.

He said the plan was to set up around 2,000 `Haritha Sanghoms,' or farmers' groups, in the State for implementing the scheme. Vegetables produced by them will be bought by the public sector Horticorp and sold through its outlets. Over 600 Horticorp outlets selling vegetables existed in the State four years ago. Many of them have ceased functioning. The outlet network will be strengthened.

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