State grappling with fall in prices of cash crops, says Cochin Chamber

The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concern at the way product district clusters have been listed ignoring the prospects of the rubber industry in the State.

A petition forwarded to the Commerce Ministry by the chamber said: “The chamber is concerned at the way Kerala has been ignored in the preparation of the product district clusters for export promotion.

In the recently released draft agricultural policy, the Union Ministry of Commerce had constituted a list of 50 district product clusters for export promotion, and it is disappointing that of these only pineapple and ginger have been recommended from Kerala.”

The chamber expressed “surprise” at the way Kerala was ignored in the rubber products district cluster despite being at the forefront of natural rubber production. At the same time, three districts from Tripura have been included in the list.

These developments have come in the backdrop of crops in Kerala facing a serious crisis.

There has been a steep fall in the prices of cash crops like pepper, cardamom, rubber, cocoa, nutmeg, and areca nut, the chamber pointed out.

The petition also pointed out that the contribution of the farm sector to the State’s economy was on the slide with negative growth in recent years.

The share of agriculture and allied sectors in the State GDP has also declined from 13.38% in 2011-12 to 11.48% in 2014-15 and to 10.38% in 2015-16.

The chamber appreciated the State government for writing to the Union Commerce Minister seeking to consider Kerala districts for clusters of rubber products.