Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK)
India: Working to make Kerala self-sufficient in Veg-fruit Sector
With the launch of the ambitious hi-tech plug type seedling production unit, having a capacity to produce 20 million quality hybrid seedlings a year, at Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district within four months, VFPCK can cater to the needs of the farmers across the state by providing them high quality seedlings. The project, which is under way, is backed by Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
Pack Houses
One of the main projects of the VFPCK in the pipeline is the five integrated vegetable and banana pack houses with 20 MT capacity storage with pre-cooling, cooling and ripening facilities in Kannur, Wayanad, Palakkad and Thrissur. The project will be funded by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The mega project is expected to be launched within two years.
KBK Kakkanad
“Krishi Business Kendra (KBK) at Kakkanad is a one-stop shop for agriculturists. VFPCK is planning to open two more KBKs in the state - one in Thiruvananthapuram and the other in Kasargod,” said VFPCK Chief Executive Officer S Sivaprasad. KBK is a retail outlet for the supply of quality fruit and vegetable seedlings, ready for sale at reasonable prices to the public. “Besides seedlings, flowering plants, organic inputs and farm implements are available for sale at the KBK. The idea of starting the KBK at Kakkanad was initiated by Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan,” he added.
Haritha Nagari
The aim of the project is to make city life greener, healthier and inhabitable. It is an urban homestead farming venture in Kochi’s corporation limits to promote organic vegetable cultivation on the terraces to make each household self-sufficient in vegetable production.
“At present, we have covered around 7,000 households under the Haritha Nagari project,” he added.
Market Intervention
“We initiate market intervention during gluts by providing fair price support to farmers in the state. During festival seasons and at a time when there is critical price surge, VFPCK intervenes in the market to safeguard the consumers,” said the CEO. “The land expansion for vegetable cultivation has been mooted by the VFPCK as part of the state government’s much-touted ‘Mission 676 project’. At present, we have around 24,000 hectares of land set aside for vegetable farming. But we are planning to increase it by 30,000 hectares in the coming years, he added.
“The pro-active leadership of the director board of the VFPCK, chaired by Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan, gives immense support and ideas for the successful implementation of the various projects of the company,” says Sivaprasad.
Ready-to-cook Vegetables
To cut down the preparation time of working women - who are caught in the rush of the daily grind - by a considerable amount and to nurture the ‘safe to eat’ concept, the VFPCK’s ready-to-cook vegetables come as heaven-sent. With the implementation of the mechanised cutting machine, VFPCK can cater to the needs of around 10,000 households in the Thiruvananthapuram district. “At present, cut vegetables are distributed among the residential associations in the district. We have plans to expand the project to Kochi also,” the CEO said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
