Kalpetta, Saturday 27 November 2009: Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said that the government is planning to implement various measures to revive pepper production in the district.

Inaugurating a livelihood support programme of the Save Farmers Campaign (SFC) network, a joint initiative of the NGOs in Wayanad, Mullakkara said a white pepper and oleoresin unit would be set up in the district under the Kerala Agro Industrial Corporation.
Minister said the free trade pact between India and Sri Lanka in 2002-03 had paved the way for the agrarian crisis in Wayanad district.

Under the treaty, as much as 20,000 tonnes of pepper imported to the country from Sri Lanka adversely affected the price of pepper, which was the major crop of the farmers in the district.

The financial crisis owing to the fall in price of the produce as well as various diseases afflicting pepper vines led to suicide among farmers. Mullakkara said that a rural agricultural wholesale market at Ammayippalm, near Sulthan Bathery, would start functioning soon.

Mullakkara Ratnakaran lauded the efforts of the SFC for its endeavour among the farming community.

Delivering the presidential address, Dr. Jose Porunnedam, Bishop of the Mananthavadi Diocese, said those in power should have a comprehensive view of the issues faced by farmers.