Kerala Agricultural University helps distressed Cassava Farmers in Wayanad

The timely intervention of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) by offering to provide valuable cassava products has also brought a ray of hope to farmers struggling with crisis during pandemic.

“After traders suddenly stopped sourcing cassava due to high availability and low demand for the product in the market, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ambalavayal, under KAU, intervened with the Kerala State Horticultural Product Development Corporation (Horticorp) by using a demonstration dryer unit at Kendra”, Allan Thomas from KVK told the press.

KVK's various initiatives have also provided job opportunities for nearly 40 women from five self-help groups.

Dr. Thomas added, “The unit can dry 60 Kg of cassava in shifts, but we operate the unit in two shifts a day to help farmers”.

He added, “Horticorp collects produces from farmers and returns them after drying. Dried products have a long shelf life and a good demand in the market. Horticorp will offer Rs.11.50 Kg to KVK as processing charge.”

In addition to cassava, the center brought out about 300 kg of value-added products made from jackfruit such as toffee, jackfruit halwa and dried jackfruit also 500Kg of jackfruit seed powder with the support of the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam.

KAU Vice Chancellor R.Chandra Babu said, during the pandemic to help the farming community, the varsity has directed all KVKs to take all possible measures.

He informed, “We have requested the Wayanad district administration to set up a dryer unit with a capacity of one tonne a day at KVK to cater to the needs of farmers in the district, and it has agreed in principle.”

 About KAU (Kerala Agricultural University)

Situated in Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala, the University has seven colleges (4 Agriculture, 1 Agricultural Engineering, 1 Forestry, 1 Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry.

In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning under Kerala Agricultural University.