Govt allots Rs 1698.30 crore for agriculture sector; rubber support price increased to Rs 180

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government allotted Rs 1698.30 crore in the budget for the development of the agriculture sector. The support price of rubber was increased from 170 to 180 rupees. Rs 9 crores have also been allocated in the first phase to establish a rubber industrial complex at Velloor under the auspices of Kerala Rubber Limited to promote value-added industries in the rubber sector.

Rs 2365 crore will be spent over the next five years through the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA), which is being implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank. The state will provide Rs 100 crore to implement this project.

• For crop management sector- 535.90 crore rupees
• Rs 93.60 crore to increase paddy production
• Rs 78.45 crore for the development of non-toxic vegetable cultivation
• Coconut Farming Development Project- 65 crore
• Promotion of Spices Cultivation - 4.60 crore
• Rs 18.92 crore to expand the area under fruit cultivation
• Crop health management- 13 crore
• Agricultural mechanization assistance- 16.95 crore
• Rs 36 crore for installation of vertical axial flow pump and motor floor in Kuttanad
• State share of various schemes under Krishi Unnati Yojana- 77 crore
• Rs 8 crore for post-harvest maintenance and value addition
• Rs 43.90 crore to ensure marketing of agricultural products
• Rs 75 crore for Agricultural University
• Soil - Water Conservation Sector Project- 83.99 Crore