KANNUR: Agriculture Minister V S Sunilkumar said the procurement of coconuts would be handed over to cooperative sector and a discussion in this regard is underway.
While inaugurating the All-India Kisan Sabha Kannur district convention in the district on Monday, the minister said during the previous UDF Government tenure, corruption to the tune of Rs 62 crores was alleged in the procurement of coconuts. “This is being investigated by the Vigilance Department. Through zonal agent, the fund was given to farmers. This had led to the crisis,” he said.
He said that KERAFED is now functioning without a chairman and board of directors and there is only managing director. Under such a critical situation, they are thinking for procuring coconut through cooperative society.
Earlier, in KERAFED though there was money in fixed deposit, it is now under severe loss, which is about Rs 55 crores, he said.
He encouraged the farmers to produce value added products. Even as a small country like Sri Lanka is making 30 to 40 per cent value added products, the State is producing only 4 per cent. He said more farmers should come forward to prepare value-added products, it would help them in big way, he said.
Sunil Kumar said the government is taking all efforts to mitigate the problems of farmers. “After the LDF government came to power in four months about Rs 28 crores out of the Rs 72 crore has been released to farmers.”
Expressing concern on changing climatic conditions, the minister said drought has severely affected agriculture and famers, and has taken toll on 4,000 hectares in Thrissur alone.