Agriculture Minister T Siddique of Kerala said on Monday that modern technologies should be fully utilised to make the agricultural sector more profitable and increase production.
The remarks were made after he inaugurated the Agri Technology Meet organised by the Agriculture Department at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Puthurvayal. The project to modernise agriculture through technology is part of the state government’s 100‑day programme.
In the first phase, the department and the Fuselage Flying Club will provide drone piloting training and licensing to about 100 farmers from various districts. Licences will be issued to roughly 20 people in each of Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Kannur districts. Siddique said that drones can be used for crop monitoring, field assessment and spraying, and that trained personnel are essential for effective use.
Other initiatives include using AI to reduce pesticide use and increase yields, formulating plans to address climate change and drought, and encouraging farmers to raise groundwater levels. The government will coordinate dam and ridge construction, and Kerala will become the first state to grant grace marks to students involved in agriculture. Agricultural clubs will be started in 500 schools in the next academic year, and Mobile Agro Machinery Service Units will provide technical assistance in remote areas. Financial assistance and subsidies will be ensured for General, SC and ST agricultural groups through the Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) scheme. A special conclave will be organised to prevent wild animal encroachment, and the government has allocated Rs 192 crore to increase compensation for farmers who suffer crop damage due to wildlife. Siddique urged the public to support the agricultural sector by adopting modern technologies and providing necessary assistance to farmers.
