Technology-driven farming to get focus

Technology-driven farming will be given focus as part of raising agricultural productivity in the state.

The Agriculture Department is launching an ambitious project to implement new technologies to improve cultivation practices, mainly vegetable farming.

Various agencies of the government have decided to rope in technical expertise from international and national agencies who have proved their mettle in this field.

While the Horticulture Mission has decided to go for high-tech farming aimed at increasing vegetable production through polyhouse and protected cultivation, Kerala Agro Industries Corporation (KAIC) has decided to improve mechanised technology in open fields.

KAIC has sought technical expertise of consultants for setting up mechanised technology-driven farming. KAIC managing director N K Manoj said that a greenhouse concept will be adopted to Kerala conditions.

A scheme has been formulated for technology-driven farming.

“The government has accorded sanction to the project for improving productivity. It will be implemented in various modules in all parts of the state”, Manoj said.  Model farms will be developed in various areas with technical expertise sourced from consultants. These techniques will be adopted in other places after training the staff of the department. This will be done in open field with mechanised support.

A model will be developed for this purpose and the technology will be transferred to KAIC, he said. The consultants will help in soil analysis, irrigation, development of infrastructure, crop selection and use of fertilisers.They will also develop necessary tools and equipment for mechanised cultivation.

There are several modules available in the country for mechanised farming and the most suited to the geographic conditions of the state will be adopted.

The available modules in the state will also be developed for improving cultivation practices.

As the cultivable land is decreasing at a rapid rate in the state, the most feasible way for not depending on other states for supply of agricultural produce is to increase productivity.

Rather than stick to traditional farming,  several alternatives have been proven successful and the best once suited for Kerala will be selected.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com