THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The World Bank has promised to give Rs.2,109 crores financial aid to value added agriculture products. It aims at adding value to agricultural products and giving doubling the profits for farmers.

The World Bank’s aid will be received by Value Added Agricultural Mission (VAAM), with the CM as Chairman, in 2023. The preliminary discussions with World Bank representatives have been done. The preparation of the report on which areas the aid would be used and the benefits in five years is being done. The World Bank will approve the aid after studying this report.

The project aims to develop dairy together with agriculture, increase agriculture with the coordination of local self-governing bodies, and to form various units for value added products.

The mission is constituted with the CM as chairperson, and the Agriculture and Industry Ministers as vice chairpersons. The agriculture production commissioner will be the convener.

The value added products are planned to be developed from rice, banana, coconut, cashew nuts, coffee, tea, jackfruit, sugarcane, medicinal herbs, rubber, potato, etc.