KOCHI: The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) has prepared a road map for Kerala, laying out a number of activities in agriculture and related areas.
The roadmap was released at a press conference here on Sunday by Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas in the presence of Chief Executive Officer of Nafed C.V. Ananda Bose.
Coconut processing and value addition tops the agenda for Nafed in Kerala. It hopes to tap the potential of cooperatives in various other government departments and research institutions to set up coconut processing and value addition units in the State.
Cooperative agricultural hubs leveraging the proposed perishable cargo complex being set up on the Nedumbassery airport premises are also on the anvil. These hubs will focus on horticultural produce using the latest technology and high density planting.
Nafed will also adopt 4,000 hectares in Kerala for organic farming. Organic produce command a premium of 30 per cent over other more conventional produces. The agency will bring to play its reach to market the produces and to induct the latest technology into the business. The cooperative plans to set up agri-based knowledge parks. Information on the latest agricultural practices can be provided through these.