Agriculture Scientists should develop techniques adaptable to the needs of marginal farmers: Shri Radha Mohan Singh

New Delhi, Dec 10: The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh has appealed to the agriculture scientists that they should develop techniques adaptable to the needs of huge number of marginal farmers in the country. The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister stated this on the occasion of completion of centenary year of IRAR- Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) situated at Kasargod in Kerala today. Shri Radha Mohan Singh also inaugurated the ‘Kisan Mela’ here and participated in an international seminar on research and development of coconut & plantation crops.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Singh said that agricultural holdings in Kerala are 0.22 hectare against the national average of 1.15 hectare. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt unified agriculture system as well as low volume – high value crops so as to make agriculture a profit making sector. Agriculture Minister further said that by adopting multi dimensional crops cycle system, with the inclusion of coconut along with black pepper, banana, pineapple, ginger, turmeric, jaifal and jimicand, the farmers of the state will be benefited. The Minister said that CPCRI has given the nation greater development pace by developing innovative technique related to plantation crops during span of 100 years.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh added that India is among the world’s leading coconut producer nations. Kerela has a significant contribution in this. During 2014-15, 32 percent land area of Kerala in the year 2014-15 and 24 percent of production has been recorded in the country. In the year 2015-16, coconut products worth 1450 cr. rupees have been exported, according to Coconut Development Board figures.

Shri Singh said that Kerala has been playing a leading role while formulating bio diversity strategy of the state. Apart from this, the livestock and fisheries sector are getting momentum. Keeping in view the agricultural potentialities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established five research institutes (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute- CPCRI, Indian Institute of Spices Research-IISR, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute-CTCRI, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute-CMFRI, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology-CIFT) as well as 14 agriculture science centers. In addition to this, central government has also been supporting state agriculture universities.

Shri Singh said that the Ministry of Agriculture has initiated a number of schemes for the welfare of the farmers. Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchaee Yojana (PMKSY), irrigation schemes have been launched in Karpujha and Mowatupujha in Kerala which are to be completed by March 2018. Under Soil Health Card Scheme a target of 7,05,420 Soil Health Cards had been fixed for distribution in Kerala. However, only 1,32,828 Soil Health Cards have been distributed in Kerala as yet. Under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), 119 cluster as a whole are in place for which a sum of Rs. 382.22 lakh have been released. However, the utilization certificates are awaited from state government in this regard. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yojana (PMFBY) is a revolutionary insurance scheme for the farmers. But this scheme has not been implemented in Kerala till now. More than 250 Mandis have been linked nationwide with National Agriculture Market (e- NAM) by 6th September, 2016 and a target has been laid down to link 585 mandis by March, 2018. But e – NAM Scheme has not been launched in Kerala. The Minister appealed to the state government to implement different central agricultural schemes for the welfare of the farmers.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh appreciated the efforts of scientists, officers and employees for conducting various agriculture programmes during the centenary year of the Institute.