Poshaka Samriddhi Mission Launched to Elevate Millet and Vegetable Production

On Thursday, the Agriculture department unveiled the Poshaka Samriddhi Mission to enhance millet and vegetable production. Agriculture Minister P. Prasad announced this initiative during the Farmers Day event on Chingam 1.

The objective is to increase millet production to 3,000 tonnes and elevate the protein-rich pulse output from 1,471 to 10,000 tonnes in Kerala. The plan involves setting up six additional millet processing facilities. The government's partnership with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, is aimed at technology transfer and processing.

Minister Prasad envisions the mission supporting 25 lakh households to cultivate vegetables and millet this year, to involve all State households by 2026. Despite progress from 6.28 lakh to 17.1 lakh tonnes in vegetable production from 2015-16 to 2022-23, the State still falls short of demand.

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The goal of the Poshaka Samriddhi Mission is to achieve its objectives within three years. Minister Prasad's ambition includes widening the scope of insurance for crops, providing safeguarding against natural disasters and reduced yields.

Inaugurating the Kerala Agro Business Company (KABCO), Prasad emphasized its role in promoting agricultural product marketing. KABCO, a public-private partnership, holds State government shares (33%), farmer shares (24%), and collective/cooperative shares (25%). This independent entity will manage agro parks and connect farmers to marketing networks.

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Prasad shared plans to increase 'Krishikootams' to 30,000 by 2026. The event witnessed the presentation of the 2022 State Farm Awards, chaired by Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty. Prominent officials, including Transport Minister Antony Raju and Agriculture Secretary B. Ashok, attended the event.

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