Kerala is set to witness a massive agricultural revolution, with Agriculture Minister P. Prasad announcing ambitious plans to create five lakh (500,000) new jobs within the state’s farm sector. This landmark declaration was made during the unveiling of the Agriculture Department’s ‘Vision 2031’ document at a seminar held in Alappuzha on Saturday. The comprehensive policy outlines a roadmap for a modern, sustainable, and entirely self-reliant agricultural landscape for Kerala.
The ‘Vision 2031’ blueprint is packed with transformative initiatives. It aims to generate an impressive ₹10,000 crore in international business from Kerala’s agricultural produce. To tackle the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict, a significant ₹1,000 crore, supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has been earmarked for a decade-long mitigation project. Furthermore, the plan includes providing cutting-edge training in artificial intelligence and advanced agricultural technologies to 10,000 young individuals, nurturing a new generation of tech-savvy farmers. Education also plays a vital role, with proposals to establish active farms in 1,000 schools across the state.
The core objectives of the ‘Vision 2031′ document are manifold: fostering climate-resilient farming practices, championing secondary agricultural development, striving to double farmers’ incomes, and ultimately achieving complete self-sufficiency in food production. The department has outlined several bold targets, including eradicating barren land throughout Kerala, empowering one lakh (100,000) farmers to earn ₹1 lakh per month, launching a staggering 10,000 ‘Keralagro’ branded products, facilitating participation in 50 international business forums under the guidance of KABCO, expanding the successful ‘Krishi Samriddhi’ initiative to 750 grama panchayats, and bringing one lakh hectares of land under cultivation through the innovative ‘NAWO-DHAN’ program.
During his inaugural address at the State-level Vision 2031 Agricultural Seminar, Minister Prasad highlighted the exceptional growth of Kerala’s agriculture sector. Citing a report from the Kerala State Economics and Statistics Department, he proudly stated that the sector achieved a remarkable 4.65% growth in the 2023–24 fiscal year – the highest recorded in the past decade. This stands in stark contrast to the all-India average of just 2.1% during the same period, underscoring Kerala’s robust agricultural performance. The Minister attributed this impressive growth to strategic efforts in boosting production and productivity, prioritizing value-added products, and strengthening the secondary agriculture sector.
Prasad also shared the success of the ‘Njangalum Krishiyileke’ project, which has successfully established 23,568 farming groups, fostering community-driven agricultural development. Recognizing the challenges faced by farmers, he confirmed that the Agriculture Department now provides compensation for crop damage caused by wild animal attacks. An additional ₹3 crore from the State Plan fund has been allocated specifically for protecting farmlands.
A key success story mentioned by the Minister is the ‘One Krishi Bhavan, One Value-Added Product’ initiative. This program has led to the development of 4,000 unique products, with 1,000 of these now consolidated under the unified ‘Keralagro’ brand. The establishment of ‘Keralagro’-branded showrooms in every district has provided a significant boost to the value-added sector, creating new markets and opportunities for local produce.
The seminar, a pivotal event for the state’s agricultural future, was presided over by H. Salam, MLA, and saw the participation of P.P. Chitharanjan, MLA, and Alappuzha District Panchayat President K.G. Rajeshwari, among other dignitaries.