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amount of ` 321 lakhs more than 2012-13 and the full amount was utilized. Draft Agriculture policy AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS
submitted to Government. Strengthened infrastructure base of farmers markets established through
VFPCK.

State Horticulture Mission (SHM)

2.41 The State Horticulture Mission formed to implement the programme of the National Horticulture
Mission. The main objective of the mission is a holistic development of the horticulture sector
covering fruits, plantation crops, spices , flowers ,aromatic and medicinal plants and mushroom. The
important schemes under the mission include production and productivity improvement, post harvest
management, value addition and marketing.

2.42 A total amount of ` 4097 lakh was released during 2013-14 and the total expenditure was
` 4039 lakh including state share. The important activities include production and distribution of quality
seeds and planting material, establishment of model nurseries, strengthening and rehabilitation of
Tissue culture units, extending the area under cultivation by bringing more areas under horticulture
crops, rejuvenation and rehabilitation of senile plants, promotion of Integrated Nutrient Management
and Pest Management programme, organic farming, pollination support through bee-keeping,
mushroom unit for spawn and compost production, and horticulture mechanizations.

2.43 A project oriented monitoring system has to be evolved for realizing the envisaged outputs. A
number of NGOs as well as private sector are also part of the project which needs further monitoring.
More convergence of schemes with state plan and RKVY with deliverable are required for improved
outputs.

Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council’s Programme (VFPCK)

2.44 India is the second largest producer of fruits & vegetables in the world. Vegetable and Fruit
Promotion Council, Kerala (VFPCK) has been implementing various schemes in fruits and vegetable
sector with the financial assistance from State and Central governments. During the year 2013-
14,7188 farmers were inducted and 363 new SHG’s were formed for the promotion of fruits and
vegetables, the number of registered farmers counting up to 171660 and number of SHGs to 8906.
The council had initiated 10 new farmer markets and 16 collection centres during the financial year.
52.5 lakh High Yielding vegetable seedlings and 12.64 lakh tissue culture banana plants were
produced and distributed throughout the state to promote homestead cultivation. In spite of this,
area under vegetable cultivation declined from 22840 hectares to 22511 hectares and the production
declined from 1.75 lakh MT to 1.44 lakh MT during 2013-14. In the case of banana cultivation an
increase of 2251 ha in area and 5668 MT in production was recorded. The production of banana
increased to 2.70 lakh MT from 2.65 lakh MT in 2013-14 and area under banana increased to 25945
from 23694 ha. 26 Automatic weather stations were installed in different parts of the state during the
period and collecting daily weather data with the participation of farmers.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

2.45 A new Additional Central Assistance scheme launched during 2007-08 to incentivize states
to draw up plans for their agriculture sector more comprehensively, taking agro climatic condition,
natural resource issues and technology by integrating livestock, poultry and fisheries. During 2007-
08 to 2012-13, a total number of 949 projects with an outlay of ` 995.38 crore were approved under
the scheme. A total amount of ` 781.95 crore was released by GoI up to 2012-13 and an amount
of ` 781.61 crore (99.95%) was utilized. During 2013-14 against the budgeted outlay of ` 340.76
crore, ` 256.24 crore was released by GoI of which ` 254.98 (99.5%) was utilised upto March 2014.

Economic Review 2014