600 New Horticorp Outlets for Onam

The Agriculture Department has decided to open 600 new Horticorp outlets to meet the additional demand during Onam, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said at a press conference held to announce State Agriculture Awards.

Vegetables and fruit will be available at a subsidy of up to 30 per cent at all Horticorp outlets from August 17 to 26, he said. The subsidy on potato, onion, tomato and banana will be 20 per cent.

The department will distribute Agri Cards to 18.77 lakh farmers who are members of the department’s online database.

Kerala Gramin Bank has been chosen as the nodal bank to distribute the cards. The card like an ATM card, will make it easier for farmers to avail various agriculture schemes and loans from the government.

Mohanan said that it would be launched on August 16.

Responding to a question on news reports accusing Horticorp of a lapse in procurement of vegetables from Idukki-based farmers, the minister said that it was merely false propaganda.

He said that a majority of the vegetables came from Idukki. He said that 76 per cent of the vegetables used in the state were being produced within the state and the percentage is expected to increase by 4 or 5 per cent.

The Coconut Development Board plans to export value-added products like virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut powder, coconut milk powder and coconut cream to Europe.

Mohanan said that the Board had received an order to export 50 tonnes of virgin oil, by next month.

The other products will be available in European markets by the end of this year, he said.

Minister for Culture K C Joseph, who was also present, spoke about South Indian Agrifest scheduled to be held from August 16 to 26 in Kannur. The press conference was at PR Chamber, Secretariat.

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