Kerala Agricultural Department is setting up five export-oriented agro parks at a total cost of Rs100 core. To be funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the project is expected to be announced in the forthcoming State Budget.
Agro Industries Corporation has drawn up the detailed project report (DPR) of the parks which will come up in Thrissur, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Idukki districts. Each park will get Rs 20 crore and focus on specific produces. All the five parks are slated to be open within a year.
The agro park in Thrissur will concentrate on production of honey and plantain. Those in Kozhikode and Plakkad will be for coconut and the one in Idukki will cultivate off-season vegetables.
The Agriculture Department has identified land for the parks. Produces will be directly exported to various states and foreign countries from points of production, under specific brand names. Farmers will be provided with assistance to produce more agri produces of international standards.
At each park, farmers will be taught the state-of-the-art and scientific farming methods of specific crops, as also the models of farming in different countries.
