Kerala launches Rs 13 crore scheme for FPOs to boost agricultural production

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Horticulture Mission has started a new scheme to support Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), aiming to boost agricultural yield, processing, marketing, and exports. This special project will be executed through the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium Kerala (SFAC-K), under the state’s agriculture department. A total of Rs 13 crore has been assigned to make the scheme successful.

The project is set to help FPOs involved in horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, mushrooms, and honey. However, the scheme will give priority to post-harvest processing, storage, value addition, marketing, and export facilities.

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Eligible FPOs will get up to 80% financial help of the total project cost, and the uppermost limit is Rs 15 lakh. Meanwhile, the projects need to be sponsored through loans from recognised banks. The loan amount should be equal to or in excess of the subsidy given.

Interested FPOs will have to contact SFAC or approach the ATMA project directors at their district’s principal agricultural office. The State Horticulture Mission and SFAC-Kerala have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the scheme. The government has been planning to complete the project within the ongoing financial year.