The farmers are looking for
better returns with the cultivation and the initiative is being initiated in
Idukki because of the cold climate, which offer conducive environment for the
crop. The Kerala state Horticultural Mission has drawn up a pilot project to
cultivate strawberry in 750 acres and have the plan to extent the project to
some other states soon by providing the facilities of mist irrigation facility.
In Nelliampathy few planters have already started the initiative earlier and
they are successful in doing it.
Director, KSHM, K.Prathapan said
Rs 6 crore has been designed for the value additional and market linkage for
farmers. More of all a team of women identified by KSHM will be sent to the
Central Food Technological Research Institute for training in fruit processing.
On the other side Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam has planned to
organize the farmers into societies.
Cold storage revived
Cold storage set up by the
Horticorp at Munnar 11 years has been revived for the project. Under this
project the unprocessed fruits will be transported to Kochi in refrigerated
trucks and sold through shopping malls. Mr. Mahanan also said the strawberry
would be sold under the brand with the caption ‘safe to eat’.
The project will start very soon
as by the first week of September, the planting will start. Planting materials
will be procured from qualified nurseries in North India.
KSHM also has the plan to promote
homestead cultivation which is ideal for farming in the mild winter regions.
This project will be taken up in few places of Idukki to convert the Idukki
region into fruit belt. KSHM has planned to distribute at least 10 saplings to
each household.
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