The state government has launched market intervention measures with rising vegetable prices in the open market, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad said on Wednesday.
The Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) will take measures for the supply of vegetables in short supply. The director of agriculture has been instructed to set up a special fund for market intervention should the need arise, Prasad said after reviewing the market situation.
Resuming agriculture at the household level is the only sustainable solution to these market-related hazards. Anything else can only provide temporary relief, Mr. Prasad said. He urged local government institutions to devise vegetable-growing programs under the Department of Agriculture’s Njangalum Krishiyilekku campaign.
It is necessary to take such measures to ensure an adequate supply of vegetables for the Onam season, he added.
Horticorp officials said the vegetables came from places such as Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu. Prices for items including tomato showed a slight decline on Wednesday. Senior officials from Department of Agriculture, Horticorp and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council of Keralam (VFPCK) attended the review.
Coconut, copra
The Department of Agriculture will step up the supply of coconuts and copra through 22 companies under Kerafed and 20 companies under Marketfed, Mr Prasad said. Copra is currently bought at ₹105.90 per kg and raw coconut at ₹32 per kg.
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