Keralam govt to step up market interventions to check price rise

Kozhikode: The Keralam agriculture department will step up market interventions to prevent artificial price rises in vegetables and other essential commodities during the festive and upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage seasons, Minister T Siddique said on Friday.

The department will also take steps to curb exploitation by middlemen, he said.

Speaking to the media at the Government Guest House here, Siddique said the department would take strong measures to ensure fair prices and protect both consumers and farmers.


The state Agriculture minister said the 'Onasamriddhi' farmers' markets held during Onam helped farmers sell their produce through a fully digital system, with the 'Kathir' app playing a key role.

The Horticulture department has already cleared all dues to farmers for the produce procured from them, he said.

"Except for Rs 3.09 lakh due to 202 farmers because of certain technical issues, all payments have been credited to their accounts. The remaining amount will also be paid this week," the minister said.

A total of 2.642 lakh tonnes of produce procured from farmers through various channels was distributed through 2,000 farmers' markets, he said.

Vegetables worth Rs 14.25 crore at market prices were supplied to 2,94,785 consumers, benefiting 14,212 farmers, Siddique said.

The Onam markets recorded a turnover of Rs 8.98 crore after accounting for subsidies, he added.

Over the past three months, the government has paid Rs 1,051.34 crore to paddy farmers, while the remaining dues would be disbursed soon, the minister said.

He said the Agriculture and Civil Supplies departments had held advance discussions and issued necessary directions to ensure the smooth procurement of paddy during the upcoming first crop season.

The government would continue to ensure that farmers receive payments on time, Siddique said.

Further, the minister said a state-level Keralotsavam would be held at the Carmel Convention Centre in Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 2 to mark Coconut Day.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan would inaugurate the event.

A stakeholders' meeting involving agencies associated with the coconut sector would also be held as part of the programme, he said.

A comprehensive coconut revival project would be formulated to restore Keralam's position as a leading coconut-producing state, Siddique said.

He said he had held discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on formulating comprehensive projects, including a coconut park, in Kuttiady in Kozhikode district.