Development of environmentally friendly agriculture

Objectives

• Take necessary interventions to maximize the production of food crops including paddy and other cereal crops with emphasis on utilization of barren land to achieve the objective of eco-friendly agricultural development.
• Extension of vegetable cultivation in households and institutions with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in continuation of the progress made in vegetable production.
• To maximize production by expanding the area of ​​Kerala's unique agricultural species.
• Expand cultivation of small millets and oilseeds.
• Expand integrated farming system to ensure maximum income to farmers.
• Implement medicinal cultivation system in possible places to promote medicinal cultivation.
• Promote secondary agricultural activities including modern precision farming systems and vertical farming systems in line with the urbanized nature of the state. Through this, create more employment opportunities.
• Take measures to ensure eco-friendly food production and health-friendly food processing, storage and distribution including organic farming for safe food production.
• Strengthen new agricultural value chains to improve Kerala's economy and increase agricultural income for farmers.
• Formulating activities to coordinate various departments, agencies, voluntary organizations and institutions towards the goal of carbon neutral Kerala. Measures for conservation and improvement of existing green spaces. More greenery will be installed, including new mangroves, bamboo groves and natural riverside vegetation.
• Development and implementation of various projects in coordination with various departments and agencies to increase income for those working in these sectors to create employment opportunities in various sectors of agriculture such as food production, storage and marketing, value addition and farm tourism.
• Development of model schemes for cereal crops, vegetables and fruits, medicinal plants, oilseeds and agro-forestry according to availability of local resources on watershed basis in agro-habitat units.

Activities

• Necessary activities and projects are being implemented to make barren land cultivable and increase the area under rice cultivation to 3 lakh hectares.
• Necessary activities to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable production and promote safe vegetable production are being implemented with the help of various agencies.
• In order to spread the message of vegetable cultivation to all the people, a popular campaign to start vegetable cultivation is being organized in all the houses in the selected 2000 wards under the leadership of the local self-government bodies in coordination with the voluntary organizations and cooperative department.
• Steps are in progress to implement a comprehensive development plan in the state with the aim of popularizing the cultivation of fruits.
• Steps are being taken to encourage cultivation of millets like ragi, millet, maize etc. and oilseeds and sugarcane in areas suitable for specific agricultural habitats.
• Plans to extend the existing Devaharitam campaign to all temples and other devotional institutions  to spread agriculture on barren land owned by them.
• Schemes will be formulated and implemented locally for utilization of barren land in establishments under Industries Department.
• 152 new gram panchayats will be declared as fallow free villages after identifying fallow land and analysing the problems.
• Cultivation of medicinal plants will be implemented by ensuring marketing potential on regional basis.
• A profitable project will be developed by starting environment-friendly raft farming (Floating Farming) in fields which cannot be farmed due to waterlogging.
• Watershed-wise plans will be developed in coordination with various departments and agencies for the 23 agro-habitat units included in the agro-habitat areas.
• Innovative farming systems like vertical farming, aeroponics, hydroponics, pink farming etc. will set up at least one model unit at the district level. It will encourage more job creation in this sector.
• Actions are being taken to conserve the existing mangroves and forests as part of restoring the ecological balance in Kerala and achieving the long-term goal of a carbon-neutral Kerala. New mangroves, bamboo groves and riparian natural vegetation will be planted, and their details will be added along with the digitization of existing green islets (Pachathuruth).
• In areas occupied by various departments, green islets (Pachathuruth) will be established in vacant areas and urban forests in areas where there is less space in cities.
• Steps will be taken to establish systems for storage, value addition and marketing of agricultural products with the help of local administrations and cooperatives and a unified digital platform will be used for marketing the products.
• In each district, local government bodies and other departments will work with agencies to formulate the most appropriate agricultural schemes on a local basis.
• Emphasis will be placed on agroforestry including fruit trees, medicinal plants, and aromatic crops appropriate to the nature of agricultural habitat units while establishing green islets (Pachathuruth).
• With the help of Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme, Ayyangali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme and Social Forestry Program of the Forest Department under the leadership of local self-governing bodies, greenislets (Pachathuruth) will be established in maximum area and steps will be taken for their further maintenance.
• Invasive trees and plants will be scientifically eliminated, and suitable native plant species will be cultivated.