In a bid to tackle the deepening crisis in Kerala’s agriculture sector, the Pala diocese of the Catholic Church has launched a food factory in Pala aimed at supporting farmers by purchasing their produce directly and converting it into value-added products. This initiative seeks to provide fair prices to farmers and encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
The factory will procure crops like jackfruit, tapioca, bananas, pineapple, and various fruits and vegetables from local farmers, cooperatives, self-help groups, and parish-based organizations. The goal is to ensure farmers receive fair compensation and to promote direct marketing of their produce.
Agriculture Minister P. Prasad, who inaugurated the factory, stressed the need for farmers to have control over pricing. He emphasized that value addition is key to improving farmers’ income and that traditional farming methods must evolve. He also highlighted the importance of forming farmers’ associations and creating a strategic farm plan to promote smart farming using modern techniques.
Cooperation Minister V. N. Vasavan inaugurated a related farmers’ conference held at the Steel India campus in Mundupalam, where the factory is located. The facility occupies 6,000 square feet on a six-acre plot.
Presiding over the event, Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt described the initiative as a unifying movement for farmers, aimed at strengthening their collective voice and economic resilience. The project is implemented through the Pala Social Service Society with support from the Agriculture Department’s Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium.
The initiative also aims to form farmers’ companies and collectives to simplify the procurement process and improve the livelihoods of rural communities.By linking agricultural production with processing and marketing, the food factory aims to create a sustainable and farmer-led agri-business model for Kerala.
