Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 The Keralam government is considering revising its agriculture policy to address emerging challenges and changing requirements in the farming sector, Agriculture Minister T Siddique informed the Assembly on Friday.
Replying to questions raised by MLAs Usha Vijayan, Sanish Kumar Joseph, K Jayanth and T O Mohanan, the minister said the state’s agriculture policy, formulated in 1992, was last revised in 2015.
Changes in land-use practices were required to promote diverse crops on plantation land and explore the potential of agriculture-based industries, including farm tourism, he said.
With climate change significantly affecting the agricultural sector, the proposed revision would consider promoting water conservation technologies, increasing compensation for crop losses caused by natural disasters, expanding climate-resilient farming practices and strengthening marketing networks.
The government would also consider strengthening mechanisms to protect agriculture and farmers from wildlife attacks, ensuring greater participation of women and youth in the farming sector, and creating more opportunities for agricultural products in national and international markets through the Kerala brand, Siddique said.
These measures would form part of efforts to update the agriculture policy in line with changing circumstances and the needs of the sector, he added.
(PTI News)
