THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A decision has been taken to fix floor price for 16 items of vegetables in the state. The main decision on the floor price was taken at the cabinet convened here today. The floor price will come into effect on November 1st, farmers’ day. The government decided to procure vegetables via 550 centres.

The price of vegetables increased in the market with low import of vegetables from other states to Kerala. Usually vegetables come to Kerala from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Due to heavy rains in these places, destruction of crops led to the decline in the import and a sharp rise in the prices.

The floor price is fixed by a 15 to 25 per cent higher than the cost of production. If the market price is lower than the floor price, the government will bear the price difference. The floor price is for a year. Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar had earlier asserted that the chief minister will make an announcement on the floor price before November 1. The minister said that the floor price is fixed considering the difficulty in procuring and processing fruits and vegetables.

The floor price will be fixed on plantain, pineapple, tapioca, kumbalam (ash gourd) cucumber, bitter gourd, snake gourd, long beans, tomato, lady’s finger, cabbage, carrot, potato, beans, beetroot and garlic.