Govt to give highest priority in tackling farm crisis

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 : The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala will give highest priority in tackling the agrarian crisis in the state by taking steps to improve the productivity through watershed-based planning, better provision of credit, reform of land and water management institutions and adoption of better technology for cultivation and post-harvest operations.

Elaborating the government policy in this regard, Governor R L Bhatia told the opening session of the 12th Assembly today that adoption of biotechnology, promotion of organic farming and other innovative farming methods would be popularised.

He said agri-export zones for medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables would be made fully functional.

Mr Bhatia said the government had already decided to write off the loans taken by the farmers who had committed suicide. It had initiated dialogue with financial institutions regarding measures that could be adopted for reducing the existing debt burden and re-scheduling of loan. In addition, the government was considering a proposal to set up a Debt Relief Commission with quasi-judicial powers to go into the cases of debt owed by farmers to private moneylenders.

The Commission would arbitrate on the appropriate level at which the debt contracted at exorbitant interest rates in the past should now be fixed, get banks to take over the debt wherever possible, with the government coming in as a possible guarantor. It would also decide on cases of debt write-off for destitute farmers where the government could settle the entire debt on the farmers behalf.

Mr Bhatia said the government was considering schemes to provide interest relief on agricultural loans taken by farmers from cooperative institutions. Recovery steps on agricultural loans availed from cooperative societies would be postponed for one year and liquidity support arranged from NABARD or other sources for credit cooperative societies to the extent of agricultural loan recovery forgone for one year.

Mr Bhatia said steps would be taken to revamp the Krishi Bhavans and transform them into effective service centres for meeting all the service needs of the farmers. He said immediate steps would be taken to check the decline of the area under paddy cultivation and conversion of paddy fields for non-agricultural and commercial purpose. A Paddy Board would be constituted shortly to increase rice production and coordinate the activities in this field.

Mr Bhatia said the governmnet proposed to constitute 'Keral Groups' in every panchayat to address the crisis faced by the coconut growers. To deal with the problem of root wilt affecting coconut palms on a lasting basis, a project for management of root wilt disease with an outlay of Rs 1,924 crore, which was approved by the Planning Commission, would be implemented on a cluster basis with the direct participation of farmers.

He said efforts would be taken to evolve schemes to retain the existing livestock farmers and promote livestock farming among the rural poor. Panchayats would be adopted for intensive poultry rearing and marketing network involving 'Kudumbasree' units.

The Governor said an integrated programme for coastal development would be drawn up as part of providing better amenities to the fisher folk. The most important component would be a scheme for providing universal housing, sanitation, drinking water and electricity to every household.

Participatory coastal afforestation, coastal protection programme and conservation of mangroves would also be promoted to improve the livelihood of th coastal communities. Aqua-parks would be set up for ornamental fishes and programmes would be launched on a mission mode to augment culture fishery, both inland and brackish water.

The government also proposed to promote deep sea fishing for exploiting the tuna resources and to improve the hygienic conditions of the fishing harbours. The integrated coastal programme would be funded from various sources, the most important being Rs 1,400 crore Tsunami Rehabilitaton Project.

The Governor said no efforts would be spared to bring in necessary legislation to ensure remittance of cess from fish exporters to the fishermen Welfare Fund.

UNI