Kerala's Budget Allocates Rs 971.71 Billion To Agriculture Industry

The agriculture sector has been allocated 971.71 crores in the 2023-24 State Budget, and the support price for coconut has been increased from 32 to 34 per kg.

Central assistance accounts for 156.30 crores of the total outlay for the sector, according to Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal. While 732.46 crore has been set aside for crop husbandry, the outlay specifically for rice development has been increased from 76 crore in the current fiscal year to 95.10 crores.

Major allocations include 93.45 crores for a comprehensive vegetable cultivation programme, 68.95 crores for coconut development schemes, and 25 crores for the procurement of coconut seed nuts as well as the production and distribution of coconut seedlings through farm department farms. Organic farming, as well as modern technology-based farming, practices, will be promoted by the department as "safe to eat" food production.

The Budget includes 89.75 crores for soil and water conservation, as well as 4.60 crores for spice cultivation. The Budget has set aside 18.92 crores for fruit cultivation, with an emphasis on increasing the production and productivity of indigenous and exotic fruits. The budget for the Kerala Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council (VFPCK) has been increased from 25 crores to 30 crores.

The government will spend 74.50 crores on agricultural produce marketing, storage, and warehousing, 19.81 crores on farm mechanization, and 3.75 crores on machinery procurement for small-medium processing enterprises through farmer producer organizations (FPO).

The Agriculture Department also plans to spend 2 crores in 2023-24 on measures to prevent wild animal encroachment on populated areas.

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