Fruits and vegetable farmers and exporters have urged the Kerala government to issue a ‘Nipah Free Certificate’ to Calicut International Airport to help re-start exports that were halted in the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak in early September.
These demands come after the virus was brought under control, leading to easing of restrictions and the Kerala government issuing `Nipah Free Certificates' to privately-run airports at Cochin and Kannur for fruits and vegetable exports. However, farmers and exporters routing their cargo through Calicut International Airport, run by state-owned Airports Authority of India (AM) continue to be hit by the restriction imposed by the state government.