Kerala to submit Rs 1,000 crore scheme to Centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala would submit a Rs 1,000 crore scheme to the Centre for inclusion in the Rs 25,000 crore `Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana' announced by the Prime Minister, state agriculture minister Mullakkara Rathnakaran said on Saturday.

Addressing a meeting of officials with the agriculture department, Planning Board and experts in the farm sector, convened to chalk out the programme, he said the scheme should provide jobs to at least 10,000 persons.

The scheme would lay focus on increased production of coconut, paddy and vegetables and marketing of value-added products. An expert committee would be formed with agriculture department director as convenor to prepare the scheme, he said.

The state would submit a Rs 300 crore scheme this year during which period the Centre would spend Rs 1,500 crore for development of agriculture sector.