Cultivating Self-Reliance and Innovation
“Kerala’s agriculture sector has achieved remarkable progress in the last 10 years, displaying extraordinary resilience while navigating formidable impediments like natural disasters, climate change, a steady decline of arable land and market fluctuations. This progress was driven by a holistic integration of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, improving farmer welfare and streamlining procurement systems. By increasing Minimum Support Price, promoting organic and sustainable farming, and adopting cutting-edge digital technologies the state could successfully revitalise its agriculture sector.”
-P. Prasad
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture has long been contributing to Kerala’s economy, shaping livelihoods and sustaining rural communities across the state. Increasing farmers’ income served as the cornerstone of agricultural policies executed throughout this period. A study by the Economics & Statistics Department confirms that Kerala Government’s commitment to raising farmers’ income by 50% has been successfully realised. This milestone was achieved through a multi-faceted strategy that integrated increased production and enhanced yield with measures to reduce cultivation costs, maintain price stability and promote value addition. Supported by the state government’s strategic interventions, Kerala is now steadily progressing towards the ambitious goal of doubling farmers’ income.
Strategic Importance of KERA
As climate change poses a formidable threat to Kerala’s agricultural landscape, the state government has prioritised comprehensive climate-resilient initiatives. Central to this strategy is the KERA (Kerala Climate Resilient Agri- Value Chain) project. Supported by a World Bank assistance of Rs 2,365.5 crore, KERA represents one of the most significant interventions in the agricultural sector in the history of this state. The project is designed to fortify the entire agri-value chain, directly benefitting over 4 lakh farmers and indirectly supporting another 10 lakh farmers. Kerala’s scientific adaptation is further evidenced by the allocation of Rs 500 crore to enhance paddy yield using low-carbon emission methods and the collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In addition to paddy, major crops like rubber, coffee, cardamom and coconut were also brought under the scope of the project.
Value Added Agriculture
The strategic emphasis placed by the government on the secondary agriculture sector has been instrumental in overcoming the traditional limitations of Kerala’s agricultural landscape. A key move in this direction was the formation of Kerala Agro Business Company (KABCO). The company is tasked with the pivotal objectives of identifying national and international markets for local produce, promotion of valueadded products and the mobilisation of private investment in the state’s agriculture sector. The state-of-the-art Expo and Agri Park coming up at Anayara in Thiruvananthapuram at a cost of Rs 72 crore is further expected to unlock transformative opportunities for Kerala in the realm of global agriculture marketing.
Brand Identity for Farmers’ Produce
Keralagro distinguishes itself as India’s first state-led initiative to unify diverse value-added agricultural products under a single brand. With the practical implementation of the vision -‘One Krishi Bhavan One Value-Added Product’, the state could successfully empower local communities to develop an impressive portfolio of over 1000 unique products. To ensure these goods reach consumers directly, Keralagro premium outlets were established across the state. The state has now set an ambitious target to expand the catalogue to 4,000 products by 2026.
Public Participation
Njangalum Krishilyilekku campaign has successfully transformed agriculture from a mere government scheme into a massive social movement. This initiative led to the formation of 23,569 krishikkoottams (farming groups), 100 agriculture societies and 21,520 farm plans in the state. As a result, the state has achieved a seamless integration of various sectors such as production, service, marketing and value-addition. By attracting youth, women and expatriates into the agricultural fold, the campaign has orchestrated a strategic shift from traditional crop-based farming to a more organised farm-based planned agriculture.
Krishi Darshan and Smart Administration
The Krishi Darshan programme – an initiative designed to bring administration directly to the fields to address farmer grievances firsthand – has emerged as a model of effective governance.The adalats organised under this scheme have successfully helped resolve deep-rooted disputes and long-standing issues right at the farm level. Complementing this outreach, the government launched Smart Krishi Bhavans, leveraging digital integration to modernise agricultural support. To date, 80 centres have been fully transformed into Smart Krishi Bhavans. Additionally, the government introduced Ashraya Centres, a pioneering initiative modelled after Akshaya Centres, to provide the farming community with essential services marked by enhanced speed and efficiency.
Digital Revolution
Kerala Krishi Hub (KKH) and Kathir App ushered the agriculture sector into a more efficient digital era. Kathir app has evolved into a single-window system that provides farmers with essential tools and services such as unified database, geoportal, AI-based farm boundary mapping, weather-based crop planning, carbon credit tracking, and consultation with experts.
Sustainable Agriculture Policy
Kerala Organic Farming Mission and Kerala- Model Natural Farming Sub-Mission were implemented with the primary objectives of ensuring safe food and environmental protection. Strategic measures are currently underway to expand the footprint of organic cultivation from 25,000 hectares to 1 lakh hectares. By establishing certification, traceability and dedicated branding, organic farm products gained significant credibility in the market.
Mushroom Village Project
The mushroom villageproject – launched to promote mushroom cultivation and generate supplementary income for homemakers – has met with an overwhelming response. Launched under the aegis of Kerala State Horticulture Mission, the project is currently being implemented across 100 local self government institutions. The department provides necessary training to those joining the project. Farmers who received specialised training from Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India’s Mushroom city), serve as master trainers to mentor the new farmers. Value added products derived from mushrooms have widespread popularity and strong market acceptance.
Achievements in Crop Sectors
Achievements in Crop Sectors • Paddy cultivation: Enhanced productivity by successfully conserving 2 lakh hectares of paddy fields. The government ensured market stability by procuring 62.81 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. • Coconut: Achieved a significant surge in production through the strategic implementation of the ‘Keragramam’ project. • Vegetables and fruits: Defying national trend, Kerala recorded a substantial increase in both cultivation area and total yield, moving the state steadily towards self-sufficiency. • Rubber: Safeguarded the livelihoods of the farmers through the Rubber Price Stabilisation scheme.
Insurance Coverage and Farmer Welfare
The Weather-Based Crop Insurance scheme was extended across all districts, expanding the safety net for farmers across the state. By streamlining and simplifying the mandates, the government successfully brought a larger segment of the farming population under the insurance coverage. Furthermore, the waiving of agricultural debts via the Kerala State Farmers’ Debt Relief Commission as well as the establishment of Kerala Farmers’ Welfare Fund Board provided significant relief and stability to the farming community. As a result of the integrated implementation of farmer welfare initiatives and food security programmes, through sustainable practices and scientific methods using digital innovation, the Kerala Agriculture Model has emerged as a definitive guiding light for the nation.