Rice Development
H/A: 2401-00-102-90 Rs. 9510.00 lakh
The rice development programme aims at promotion of paddy cultivation in the state through area expansion programmes, input assistance for sustainable rice development, support for group farming activities and Royalty to paddy land owners. The seven rice growing agro ecological units will be given thrust in augmenting rice productivity. The department will ensure that at least 33 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women. An outlay of ₹ 9510.00 lakh is provided for rice development during 2023-24.
The component wise break up for rice development are given below
An amount of ₹ 5500.00 lakh is allocated for input assistance under sustainable rice development @ ₹ 5500/ha and for Royalty @ ₹ 3000/ha to paddy land owners as incentive for conserving the paddy lands. The support for input assistance will be in the form of quality seeds, inputs (based on AEU based recommendations) and bio control agents only.
The component for soil and root health management and productivity improvement with respect to lime application for paddy crop is allocated under rice development for an amount of ₹ 2660.00 lakh. The area expansion programme of paddy will be carried out through fallow land cultivation, raising double crop in single cropped areas and promotion of specialty rice, subject to recommendation of KAU and feasibility. An amount of ₹ 300.00 lakh is earmarked for area expansion of paddy in 2023-24.
Registered Seed Growers Programme (RSGP)/ Seed Village Programme (SVP) will be continued for which an amount of ₹ 125.00 lakh is earmarked for assistance to RSGP farmers and grant for KSSDA (Kerala State Seed Development Authority). The grant to KSSDA will be decided in consultation with the KSSDA officials. The assistance will be available only for transplanted crop.
During 2023-24, an amount of ₹ 200.00 lakh is earmarked for „Operation Double Kole‟ a component to encourage double cropping in Kole areas. The assistance will be provided for critical inputs and infrastructure development based on the project proposal from the special officer of the programme. The convergence of schemes under RKVY, RIDF and Kerala Agricultural University will be ensured. An amount of ₹ 300.00 lakh is set apart for promoting group farming activities of the active padasekhara samithies and ₹ 30.00 lakh to provide operational support to paddy development agencies in a project based manner.
Infrastructure development in padasekharams including block level convergence will be supported in a project mode. The projects prepared for infrastructure development should be identified and approved at the level of Director of Agriculture. Convergence with activities under RKVY, RIDF, Other CSS and LSGD schemes should be ensured in undertaking infrastructural development. The scheme will be implemented in integration with good working PACS in the area. Establishment of rice mills and par boiling units will be supported based on need based assessment done by the Agricultural Officer in terms of paddy production in the locality. An amount of ₹ 200.00 lakh is allocated for these programmes.
During the year 2023-24, foliar application of micronutrients in rice will be supported for which an amount of ₹ 195.00 lakh is earmarked. The department may explore ways to induct new technology into this area by way of stakeholder participation and credit linkage.
Rice development programmes of the department will be implemented with the active involvement and convergence of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), Kudumbasree, PACS, FPOs and the Local Self Governments.
