Kerala to come out with food security scheme

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting here, the chief minister said there were "no difference of opinion among the Cabinet members as has been made out in certain sections of the media".

The government would soon work out a comprehensive food security scheme and implement it in a smooth manner, he said reiterating that the implementation of the scheme was a serious matter, which was not to be decided by just one department alone. "It needs coordinated efforts from various departments," he added.

The CPI ministers in the Cabinet hold important portfolios such as food and civil supplies, agriculture and revenue. The confusion had arisen after a special Cabinet meeting on Tuesday failed to arrive at a conclusion on the issue. The failure was reportedly due to differences between the CPI(M) and CPI nominees about the funding pattern of the food security strategy.

The chief minister said the government would evolve a comprehensive plan to raise domestic rice production from 600,000 tonne to 900,000 tonne. Efforts would also be taken to raise the production of vegetables, meat and eggs. It is also being proposed that farmers could be sanctioned interest-free loans apart from setting up seed-banks.