KOZHIKODE: The Non Resident Keralites (NRKs), who brought prosperity to the state with the Gulf money, are all set to script a new chapter by investing in agriculture sector. Breaking away from the conventional path of investment, a group of NRKs in Kozhikode has come forward to invest their hard-earned money in large scale cultivation of vegetables on leased land.
The brain behind the move is the Kozhikode-based Indo-Arab Confederation Council. The body is looking forward to take up vegetable cultivation on available lease land in the district. Less risk and sure profit are the factors which prompted the NRKs to come under one roof for the purpose, the organisers of the association said. The move also aims to popularise farming and instil a love for it among the new generation.
The council reached the decision after conducting studies across the state on the status of investments made by the NRKs in industrial sector. The study revealed that the NRKs who invested in industrial sector including footwear manufacturing, electronic items and bulb manufacturing and rubber products in the state have been incurring financial losses.
The council has already set up an office for the purpose at the Urban Wholesale Agricultural Market at Vengeri.
The NRK members of the Indo Arab Confederation Council have set aside a sum of `1 crore for the venture. The project aims to cultivate vegetables using organic manure.
The project will be implemented with the involvement of Gulf returnees and NRKs.
The project will also have the active participation of Agriculture Department.
Former officials of the Agriculture Department including Rasheed, retired district agriculture deputy director, and Moosa, retired joint director of district Agriculture Department, have already agreed to render their services for the project. The council has approached the government to give land at Vengeri on lease. The members have also approached a private party at Nanmanda for the same.
“We have already submitted letters to the Agriculture Production Commissioner K Jayakumar and District Collector Dr P B Salim seeking their co-operation and they have expressed keen interest in the project, said Attakoya Pallikandi, chairman of the Indo Arab Confederation Council. “We are awaiting the formation of new government,” he said.
The farmers will attend the training classes of agriculture experts on various aspects of farming. The seeds will be procured from the Farm Information Bureau, Vellimadakunnu, Peruvanamuzhi nursery and Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy.
“The seeds will be sowed once we get the land on lease and the project will be kicked off within a month,” said Attakoya.