Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is all set to take a major step in creating and upgrading micro-enterprises focussed on food processing based on local crops and localised food products in the state with the 'One District One Product programme'. The program will include a range of local produce from jackfruit and coconut-based products to spices to tapioca and mussels.
A joint program by the State and the Centre, the One District One Product (ODOP) programme is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme from the Central Government and will be effected in Kerala by February.
The ODOP would be implemented across the country as part of the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme, aims at addressing the challenges of credit, technology, and market access and ensuring the sustainability of farmers and micro-enterprises attached to the food processing industry. Through the ODOP, the value addition and marketing of a particular farm crop which is produced more in a district would be carried out under the supervision of the Government. Kerala Industries Department is responsible for the programme.
Right from the procurement, storage, processing, branding up to the sales, the department would train the entrepreneurs thoroughly in each aspect. The programme would make credits and subsidies available to the entrepreneurs. It would also ensure that the farmers get a good price for their crops and the entrepreneurs are able to generate good revenue, and also create more job opportunities in the region.
The programme has been designed such that the Centre bears 60 per cent of the cost involved and the State 40 per cent. In the current fiscal, the State has earmarked Rs 16.92 crore for the project.
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"The project is in the last stage of implementation and Kerala would set an example by executing the program first in the country in an exemplary manner," said the Project’s Nodal Officer and Industries Department Director M G Rajamanikyam.
The crops from each district in Kerala were chosen by the Industries Department with the help of Kerala Agriculture University. A study was conducted to identify the farm produce. During the study to choose the agricultural produce, factors including climate variations across Kerala, traditional farm practices in each region and round-the-year availability were evaluated.
The crops which are produced in huge quantities and go bad if not consumed within a small period have been considered from each district.
Tapioca from Thiruvananthapuram and other tuber crops from Kollam, jackfruits from Pathanamthitta, paddy products from Alappuzha and Thrissur, pineapple from Kottayam and Ernakulam, spices from Idukki, Nendran plantain variety from Palakkad, coconut-based products from Kozhikode and Malappuram, milk and dairy products from Wayanad, coconut oil from Kannur and mussels from Kasaragod have been selected under ODOP in Kerala.
Individuals and Self Help Groups (SHG) can start micro-enterprises based on these crops in their respective districts. Value addition being the core of the scheme, farmers are hopeful as the produces harvested in large quantities will not go waste for want of consumers hereafter.
Through the ODOP programme, the State and Central Governments expect that the quality of life of many farmers and small entrepreneurs can be improved.
