Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, July 25 (IANS) The Kerala government Wednesday gave its nod to the setting up of green houses and hi-tech bio-parks for coconut and rice in the state.

Addressing reporters here after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said green houses would be set up across the state where fruits, vegetables and flowers could be grown by farmers.

“Fifty percent subsidy would be provided by the centre, 25 percent by the state and the rest 25 percent would be given as loan by cooperative banks. All the 14 district collectors have been asked to call a meeting of interested people who are willing to set up green houses,” he said.

Chandy said the chief secretary had been asked to set up an expert committee and appoint chief executive officers for the bio-parks for rice and coconut.

“The cabinet saw a presentation on the bio-parks. They would be set up by experts drawn up from the state agriculture department and the Kerala Agricultural University. Already, there are farms functioning under these departments and it is here that the bio-parks would come up,” he said.

Kerala largely depends on neighbouring states for fruits, vegetables and flowers.

With the green houses, the government expects to stop being at the mercy of middle men who procure the items from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and supply them to Kerala.