Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Feb 15: The agricultural development committee has urged for an Areca nut development board similar to the rubber board.

The department of agriculture has said that the areca cultivation has suffered a loss of Rs 153 crores this year due to mahali disease to the crop.  10,199 hectares of 18,233 hectares cultivated for areca crop has suffered mahali disease. 56% of the crop is destroyed.

Director of Areca nut spices development director Homi Cherry has estimated the loss to the crop but no compensation has been available to the farmers say the officials.

The meeting has urged for mobile mud testing laboratory. The laboratory for Kannur-Kasargod at Kannur is being used for it at the moment.  It would be necessary to fill vacancies of agricultural officials.  There are vacancies of ten officials, two field officials nd three agricultural assistants.  The district level official principal has not appointed the officials yet.  It was decided to hold a study picnic for the areca growers in the district.

The officials said that an amount of Rs 500 each is paid as pension for 9,688 farmers.  4683 new applications have been received.  The applicants will be paid as soon as the funds are released.  The meeting decided to prepare a list of pensioners at each Krishi Bhavan.

 It was also decided to maintain a register of land owned by farmers and their produce.

In the meeting held in district commissioner hall, Zilla panchayat president advocate P P Shamaladevi presided over the meeting.

Agricultural development committee members M Kunhahmed, P P Kunhiraman, K Varghese, A A Abdul Rehman, Ahmedali Kayyamkudal, P K Kumaran Nayar, Siddiq Ali Mogral, Balakrishnan Nambiar, Kuttiana Mohammed Kunhi, Saji Joseph, M Kunhambadi, K P Madhavi, agricutlrual deputy director Sajan Thomas, P Pradeep, P Girija, Assistant principal, agricultural official S Sushma, etc were present.