“The district will obtain a sum of Rs 5 crores for the implementation of special agricultural package this year,” said Planning committee member P V Unnikrishnan at the inaugural function of ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana,’ a district level session on agricultural planning.

He said that a sum of Rs 50 crores has been released for the state this year and it is expected that the sum to be released next year will be more than this year. With an increased amount flowing in for the state next year, the district is expected to receive an amount of about Rs 25 crores next year, which means that the next agricultural plan for the district must be prepared carefully aiming at maximum development of the district.

Chief Agricultural Officer B Nalinaksha said that about 50 per cent of arecanut plants have been destroyed in the district, while about 90 per cent of the crops have been destroyed in some of the Panchayats limits. He said that arecanut is produced in an area of 17,500 hectares and coconut is grown in area of 53,000 hectares, so the new package will be helpful for the farmers.

Mr Nalinakshan said that they will urge the government to release another package consisting plans of construction of check dams for minor irrigation, rain water harvesting, cashew processing unit, mushroom production, bee keeping and organic manure.

He informed that Dairy Development Officers have planned to establish a dairy farm to improve the milk production in the district and they have also assured to distribute 500 cows of mixed breed, which have the potentiality of giving maximum milk.

ZP Vice President Mohommad Mubarak, standing committee President P B Abdul Razak and District Project Officer D Prashanth were present.