ICAR to implement Rs 40 crore project

Kalpetta, July 8: The Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) will implement a Rs 40 crore project to create more employment opportunities and to increase the income of the people of Wayanad who depended on agriculture for livelihood.

The priority areas which would come under the project were production of planting materials, animal husbandry, promotion of organic farming, development of farm tourism and farming of medicinal plants, said Regional Research Centre Associate Director V K Raju.

The Regional Agriculture Research Centre of Ambalavayal near Sulthan Bathery here would be the implementing authority, he said.

The five year project would support farmers in all phases of production and marketing, he said.

The Spices Board, Coffee Board, Vegetable and Food Promotion Council, National Spices Research Centre, Wayanad Social Service Society, District Panchayat were co-partners in the project.

UNI