The Agriculture department’s efforts to give a fillip to the agriculture sector by creating ‘Krishikootams’ (farm groups) are set to take off on a big note.
The department, under its newly formed Value-Added Agriculture Mission (VAAM), will formally launch the operations of 1,200 Krishikootams, which include 1,000 value-addition-oriented groups and 200 mechanised ones focusing on farm-related services, on Tuesday. The department will also formally declare the successful panchayat-level registration of 20,000 Krishikootams on the occasion.
The Agriculture department had hit upon the idea of creating dedicated farm groups working in an atmosphere of collaboration so as to boost production, procurement, processing, value-addition and marketing of vegetables, fruits and tubers. According to the department, the concept of krishikootams evolved out of the ‘Njangalum Krishiyilekku’ campaign launched by the department last year to promote agriculture as a household activity and localised production of safe-to-eat food.
