Thiruvananthapuram: The high-level committee meeting summoned by the Minister of Agriculture P Prasad at Thiruvananthapuram decided to procure coconuts from farmers at Rs 32 from January 5. The decision was taken to extend support to the farmers by considering the price fall of coconut in the state. The state will request the central government to speed up the coconut procurement through NAFED.
The Agriculture department director is in charge of equipping the panchayat-level committees and cooperative societies organised as part of Keragramam project by KERAFED and Coconut Development Corporation to accelerate the procurement.
Mathrubhumi had reported on Thursday that the price of coconuts and copra have dropped further than the Minimum Support Price. Though the MSP fixed for coconuts is Rs 32, the farmers have been receiving only Rs 29.
Agriculture production commissioner Tinku Biswal, director of agriculture department TV Subhash, Kerala prices board chairman P Rajasekharan, agriculture additional director Anila Mathew, KERAFED managing director R Ashok, representatives of NAFED and coconut development board also participated in the meeting.
