The Hindu Business Line : Governor's speech lays stress on farm sector, curbing inflation

Govt proposals
The year 2007-08 to be declared as `Harithavarsham' - the year of agriculture and farmers.
The Government is planning to set up IT parks as a `hub and spoke' model in all district headquarters and rural areas.

THE GOVERNOR, Mr R.L.Bhatia, addressing the Assembly on Friday. Beside him is the Speaker, Mr K. Radhakrishnan. - S. Gopakumar

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Thiruvananthapuram March 2 The Kerala Government has identified the development of the agricultural sector and farmers' welfare, containing the rise in the prices of essential commodities and rejuvenation of the State's traditional industries as some of the priority areas calling for concerted fiscal and policy initiatives.

The Government will also press ahead with the efforts to ensure the growth of sunrise sectors such as information technology, biotechnology and tourism and reopening of closed industrial units and plantations.

Organic Farming

The Governor of Kerala, Mr R.L. Bhatia, said in his address to the State Assembly on Friday, the opening day of the Budget session, that the name of the Department of Agriculture would be changed as the `Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare' to reflect the Government's commitment to the sector.

The year 2007-08 to be declared as `Harithavarsham' — the year of agriculture and farmers. The Government will launch `Hartithasree' aimed at producing 15 lakh tonnes of vegetables and make the State self-sufficient in them.

Organic farming to be encouraged and the technical know-how for the purpose will be transferred to the rural farmers.

The districts of Palakkad, Wayanad and Idukki to be developed as organic farming-based `vegetable districts'. Also, 100 bio-villages will be started with the emphasis on organic farming.

PADDY CULTIVATION

The Government to bring in a legislation to curb the shrinkage of the area under paddy in the State. Another legislation is also proposed for regulating agriculture marketing so as to safeguard the interest of the farmers from the onslaught of multinationals.

The State Government feels that the root cause of the rise in the prices of essential commodities is the wrong policies of the Centre, which has reduced the allocation of wheat, sugar, kerosene and LPG under the public distribution system.

To tackle this, the Government has already started purchasing the commodities directly from the producing centres through its various agencies.

Intervention Scheme

In order to maintain a steady supply line at affordable prices, the Government will strengthen its market intervention scheme. It proposes to start new petrol bunks in eight more districts, thus covering all the districts during this year.

The scheme to procure paddy directly from the farmers and distribute it through PDS after conversion to rice to be continued. Besides, consumer councils at State and district levels are being constituted to protect the interests of the farmers.

The Government will actively promote the cashew industry and programmes will be implemented to improve productivity and quality. Further, more value-added products will be developed and launched in the market.

In the coir sector, which employs 3.75-lakh workers, the Government will take up programmes such as promoting raw husk defibering mills, introduction of `purchase price enforcement scheme' and effective market intervention by procurement of yarn, coir and coir products through `distress purchase scheme'.

Job Opportunities

In the area of information technology, institutions such as Technopark and Infopark to be developed so as to make them a hub for IT industry.

A `Technocity' on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram will be established, which will be a self-contained IT township.

The Government is planning to set up IT parks as a `hub and spoke' model in all district headquarters and in selected locations, including rural areas.

The intention is to create two-lakh job opportunities in the sector over the next five years.

The centrepiece of the tourism development initiative is the promotion of `responsible tourism'. A year-long road map to be prepared to ensure that the various stakeholders are brought into the framework of responsibility and the benefits would be shared by the local community and the poor.

The tourism department would be identifying new destinations for comprehensive development. Also, linkages between tourism and traditional industries will be strengthened.

Reopening Units

The Government will take all steps to revitalise the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). During the financial year, an electronic hub in Kochi and Spices Park in Idukki would be set up. Besides, mega industrial parks and corridors have been planned and these will be initiated by KSIDC.

The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) is planning to set up a `Knowledge Park' at Kozhikode with world-class facilities, a biotechnology and electronics corridor in Kochi and a health and textile corridor in Palakkad.

The Small Industries Development Corporation will set up a `Telecom City', which will create employment for about 6,000 people.

The Government would be taking all possible steps for reopening of closed industrial units and plantations. To facilitate this, it has been decided to waive the minimum demand charges during the period of closure for such units and plantations on their reopening.

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