Crop Insurance and Diversification Critical for Doubling farmers Income, Sri. M K Raghavan

   Crop Insurance and diversification of farm enterprises are critical component for securing and enhancing farm income in rural areas, said Sri, M K Raghavan, Honourable Member of Parliament, Kozhikode. He was inaugurating ‘Sankalp Se siddhi’ –Determination to Attainment, programme organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kozhikode at ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research on 25th August 2017. He also emphasised on the need for equipping farmers with good quality seed, organic fertilisers, and irrigation facilities to increase the farmer income. He said a target oriented strategy has to be planned at Panchayath level for higher production of vegetables, egg, milk and allied products. The farmers took a pledge to adopt sustainable, scientific and socially desirable practices to ensure fast development and progress of the nation.   Shri. Babu Parassery, District Panchyath President and addressed Shri. Pradeep Kumar, MLA Kozhikode North addressed the farmer gathering organized as part of the programme. Shri. Babu Parassery exhorted the farmers to target  higher income e through value addition and direct marketing. Sri Pradeep Kumar said that institutions like IISR and KVK should take greater role in highlighting key issues of farmers.  Smt. S Subha Deputy Project Director, ATMA, Kozhikode gave felicitation address.

Dr. K. Nirmal Babu, Director, ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode welcomed the gathering. Dr. Santhosh J Eapen, Head crop protection Division elaborated the Sankalp Se siddhi seven point programme for doubling farmers income by 2022. The programme envisages to double income of farmers by providing better irrigation facilities, ensuring high quality of planting material, enhancing availability of organic inputs, Practicing soil test based fertilizer application and minimising post harvest losses. Value addition and enhanced market facilities should also form critical components in the quest for achieving the target of doubling farmers income by 2022. A video documentary was shown on the programmes taken up by Central Govt. for the welfare of farmers. Successful farm models and farming ventures were presented to the participants by Dr. B Sasikumar, Head, Crop Improvement and Biotechnology Division of ICAR IISR. Dr. Sheeja, Principal Scientist sensitized the farmer participants on the immense economic potential of commercialization of agricultural and allied technologies. Dr. P. Ratha Krishnan, Programme co-ordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kozhikode presented the vote of thanks. An exhibition on technological inputs developed by ICAR-IISR and value added products of self help groups were also held. The programme was attended by about 500 people.