Information Courtesy: Farm Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram.
These are the right times for planting in coconut groves, and for cultivating legumes and millets. For this, there are various assistance schemes from the Department of Agriculture.
Also in paddy fields after the second crop harvest, legumes and millet cultivation can be taken up.
Legume Cultivation: Small and marginal farmers and farming collectives who cultivate crops like black gram, green gram, cowpea, and soybean on at least 25 cents of land will receive assistance.
Rs. 15,000 per hectare will be provided for preparing the agricultural land and for buying seeds.
Millet Cultivation: Assistance of up to Rs. 20,000 per hectare will be provided for cultivating millets like foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, barnyard millet, pearl millet, sorghum, and kodo millet.
The assistance is for seeds, production inputs, farming costs, and processing costs. There is also assistance for selling the processed products under the Agro brand.
For those who are currently cultivating betel leaves and for farmers who have been cultivating for the past 3 years but have not received other government assistance.
- ✅ The assistance is for farmers in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Malappuram, and Kasaragod districts.
- ✅ The assistance is to cultivate traditional varieties like Tirur Vettila.
- ✅ Rs. 40,000 will be provided for 10 cents.
- ✅ For more details, contact the nearest Krishibhavan.
Price for one tissue culture banana sapling:
Nendran – Rs. 30, Mhasamari Kanjikulan – Rs. 30, Palayankodan – Rs. 40, Attunendran – Rs. 30, Poovan Nendran – Rs. 30, King – Rs. 40, Grand Naine – Rs. 20.
Apply Online under the SMAM Scheme.
Applications can be submitted to purchase agricultural machinery, equipment for post-harvesting, processing, value-addition activities, and other machinery with a subsidy under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, which is being implemented by the state government with central assistance.
- ✅ Individual beneficiaries can get 40% to 50% subsidy.
- ✅ Farmer collectives, SHGs, FPOs, individuals, and panchayats can receive 40% financial assistance of the project cost to establish Custom Hiring Centers for agricultural machinery.
- ✅ To promote mechanization in areas with less than 40% mechanization, farmer collectives are granted financial assistance of up to 80%, or a maximum of Rs. 24 lakhs, for a project of up to Rs. 30 lakhs to establish machinery banks.
Applications for the 2025-26 financial year can be submitted through the website http://agrimachinery.nic.in/index.
For more details, contact the Krishi Directorate (0471-2306748), Krishi Executive Engineer’s Office – Alappuzha (0477-2266084), Krishi Executive Engineer’s Office – Kozhikode (0495-2725354), the district offices of the Krishi Assistant Executive Engineer, and Krishibhavans.
Pooppoli: The international flower show, Pooppoli, will be held at the Ambalavayal Regional Agricultural Research Station until the 15th of this month.
Online Course: A free online course on the topic "Income from Waste" is being offered by the Kerala Agricultural University.
For more details: 0487-2438565.
The third phase of the vaccination drive for livestock against foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis has begun as part of the National Animal Disease Control Programme.
The goal is to complete the vaccination drive by January 23, 2026.
All cattle and buffaloes over 4 months of age will be given the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.
The brucellosis vaccine is only for female calves over 4 months old. Buffaloes are excluded from this vaccination.
The officials of the Animal Husbandry Department will provide the vaccination free of charge at the farmers’ homes.
A bank loan of up to Rs. 2 crore is available through the AIF scheme for setting up a solar dryer to scientifically dry fruits, vegetables, tubers, and grains.
- ✅ The interest rate is 6%.
- ✅ The loan tenure is 7 years.
- ✅ There is a moratorium of up to 2 years.
- ✅ Phone: 8921540233, 8137008197
Who can get assistance for legume cultivation in Kerala?
Small and marginal farmers and farming collectives can receive assistance for legume cultivation when they cultivate crops like black gram, green gram, cowpea, and soybean on at least 25 cents of land. The assistance mentioned is Rs. 15,000 per hectare for preparing the agricultural land and buying seeds.
How much assistance is available for millet cultivation?
For millet cultivation, assistance of up to Rs. 20,000 per hectare is available. It applies to crops such as foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, barnyard millet, pearl millet, sorghum, and kodo millet. The support covers seeds, production inputs, farming costs, processing costs, and selling processed products under the Agro brand.
Which districts are covered for betel leaf cultivation support?
The betel leaf cultivation assistance is for farmers in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Malappuram, and Kasaragod districts. It is meant for those currently cultivating betel leaves and farmers who have been cultivating for the past 3 years but have not received other government assistance. Traditional varieties like Tirur Vettila are included.
Where are Apoorva and Sreemanya long bean varieties available?
Apoorva and Sreemanya, the new long bean varieties released by the Kerala Agricultural University, are suitable for summer cultivation. They are available for sale in limited quantities at the Pattambi Paddy Research Station. Farmers can contact the station by phone at 0466-2212228 for availability and details.
How can farmers apply for agricultural machinery subsidy under SMAM?
Applications for the SMAM scheme can be submitted online through http://agrimachinery.nic.in/index for the 2025-26 financial year. The scheme supports purchase of agricultural machinery, post-harvest equipment, processing machinery, value-addition machinery, Custom Hiring Centers, and machinery banks with eligible subsidies for individuals and farmer collectives.
What subsidy is available for Custom Hiring Centers and machinery banks?
Farmer collectives, SHGs, FPOs, individuals, and panchayats can receive 40% financial assistance of the project cost to establish Custom Hiring Centers. In areas with less than 40% mechanization, farmer collectives can receive up to 80% assistance, or a maximum of Rs. 24 lakhs, for projects up to Rs. 30 lakhs.
Who will receive the livestock vaccination at farmers’ homes?
All cattle and buffaloes over 4 months of age will be given the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine as part of the National Animal Disease Control Programme. The brucellosis vaccine is only for female calves over 4 months old, while buffaloes are excluded from brucellosis vaccination. Animal Husbandry Department officials will provide it free at homes.
