Search!

Web envkerala.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Special Zones to protect paddy fields

Special Zones to protect paddy fields

 

To check the trend of vanishing paddy fields, the State Government has decided to protect Kuttanad and Palakkad paddy fields and the Thrissur kole lands as 'Special zones'. The farmers operating within the special zones will be provided interest free loans. Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran announced this during the discussion on demands for grants for Agriculture in the Assembly on Wednesday.

                                  

The farmers within the special zone will also be given green cards, which will contain details like the extent of their holdings, their family and income. The farmers have to produce their green card to avail of the interest free loans, the Minister said. A temporary procurement system, the Minister said, will be put in place in these areas. "Under this arrangement, the banks will pay the farmer 90 percent of the procurement price due to them without delay. The Government will pay the banks later," Mullakkara said.

  (The New Indian Express, 5th July 2007)

No comments: