Value-Added Agriculture Mission gets cabinet nod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet has approved the setting up of a Value-Added Agriculture Mission aimed at increasing the farmer’s income, enhancing agricultural production and raising the income of agricultural value-added products.

The chief minister will be the chairperson of the mission and the agriculture minister is its vice-chairperson. The ministers of Local Self Government, Cooperation, Finance, Water Resources, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Electricity and Food and Civil Supplies will be its members. According to a note from the chief minister’s office, sub-working groups/resource support groups will be formed to submit sub-action plans to the mission.

An official from the agriculture department will be appointed as the chief operating officer and sub-working group resource persons will be appointed with the approval of the agriculture department. The Value-Added Agriculture Mission was announced in the 2022-23 state budget primarily to increase the state’s domestic production from agricultural resources. A company with a capital of Rs 100 crore and modelled on the Cochin International Airport Ltd was also announced.