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Idukki report submitted to Centre, says Swaminathan
LAST UPDATE: Saturday, 10 May 2008 - 4:07:50 AM
KOCHI: Renowned Agriculture Scientist and Head of a Central Government Commission to study the blighted agriculture sector in the state, Dr M S Swaminathan yesterday said a Rs 18.76 billion package had been recommended for the revival of the farm sector in Idukki District.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the International Conference on Natural Rubber Extension and Development here, Sawminathan said ''out of the total amount, Rs 7.5 billion would be loan waiver for the farmers and the remaining amount was the recommended provision for the district.'' He said the Commission had looked into the environmental, economic and infrastructure problems of the district and once it's implemented the farmers' problems would be solved.
''The report addressed how to improve the environment, soil and forest plantation and the income of the farmers,'' he noted.
Swaminathan said the report was crop, area and commodity-specific taking into consideration the peculiar environmental situation of the district and was different from the project prepared for the Alappuzha District, he noted. Suggestions had been made on improving the rural infrastructure, warehousing, value addition to primary products and in production and marketability of the agricultural products, he noted.
Though the Commission was to study the farm sectors in the districts of Wayanad, Palakkad and Kasargod, later on Alappuzha and Idukki were included, he said. Dr Swaminathan said the report on Alappuzha District was submitted to the Centre last year.
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