Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is taking a significant step towards strengthening its agricultural sector by leveraging funds from cooperative societies. As part of this initiative, the state plans to establish a horticulture hub, a key project highlighted in the latest state budget. This marks the first time an agricultural venture will be implemented under a cooperative consortium, managed by the Cooperation Department.
The move aligns with the Centre’s recent request for state recommendations on a National Cooperative Policy. In response, Kerala proposed a model of government-cooperative collaboration across welfare, development, and production sectors. The horticulture project aims to integrate high-value horticultural crops with commercial and cash crops, either as standalone plantations or intercrops. With grafted plants expected to begin yielding within two years, farmers will benefit from a steady income for up to a decade.
Key Features of the Horticulture Hub Initiative
- Thrissur as a Central Hub: Thrissur will play a crucial role as a supply centre for essential horticultural crops. To ensure easy availability, cooperative distribution centres will be set up across the state. Additionally, the initiative recognizes the export potential of high-quality saplings.
- Expanded Distribution Network: A structured network for nursery plants will be established at Kerala’s airports and seaports. Cooperative societies in the agriculture sector will manage production, distribution, transportation, and export activities, boosting the overall efficiency of the supply chain.
- Cooperative Land Utilization: The cooperative consortium will cultivate horticultural trees on its own properties or leased lands, ensuring large-scale production. A collective marketing system will be introduced to support farmers and improve the commercial viability of horticultural produce.
- Value-Added Product Development: To maximize the economic benefits of the initiative, the project will include the establishment of processing units. These units will focus on converting fruits into value-added products such as jams, squashes, jellies, frozen fruits, and dried fruit products, further enhancing market potential.
This strategic initiative is expected to provide long-term economic benefits for farmers, strengthen Kerala’s cooperative sector, and boost the state’s position in the horticulture industry at both national and international levels.
