The Kerala government is set to introduce a minimum support price (MSP) for 16 vegetables, starting from November 1.
As per the cabinet decision on Wednesday, the state Agriculture Department will implement the scheme with the support of local self-governing bodies and the Cooperative Department.
MSP will be determined based on the cost of production and productivity. A government source said that this will ensure price stability and good returns for farmers, as well as help, protect farmers from market price fluctuations.
Crops, which will come under MSP include tapioca, banana, pineapple, cucumber, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, beans, beetroot and garlic. The government hopes that this will lead to a significant increase in vegetable production in the state.
State Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar said the move will encourage farmers to cultivate the vegetables which have been included in the scheme and would help increase vegetable production in Kerala. The rate has been already fixed after factoring in the cost of production and productivity, he said.
In the first phase, 1600 –odd primary agricultural credit co-operative societies will collect the listed products from farmers through the state-run HORTICORP, Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Kerala (VFPCK) and other wholesale markets. Local self-governing bodies will provide the gap in funds for the cooperative societies if required. The amount would be credited to the accounts of the farmers enrolled in the scheme.
