Kerala to set up weather stations in all panchayats

Kerala will soon have automated weather stations in all panchayats as part of the state government's plan to provide timely inputs to farmers, the state assembly was informed today.
State Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar said the tender procedures had been launched in this regard. "Automated weather stations will be set up in all panchayats. At present, we have 134 weather stations across the state," he said during the Question Hour.
Kerala has more than 1,000 panchayats. Detailing the impact of ongoing drought situation in the agriculture sector, Sunil Kumar said the state had sought a Central assistance of Rs 784.6 crore for taking up various relief works.

According to latest reports, there was an agriculture loss in 1,07,316.59 acres of land in the state, he said. On steps taken to help farmers, Sunil Kumar said price stability had been ensured for paddy, coconut and rubber by fixing floor prices.
Efforts were also on to set up farm facilitation centres in Kannur, Thrissur and Kottayam to promote mechanisation in the farm sector, he said.
An amount of Rs 10 lakh would be allotted to strengthen the activities of agriculture task forces, the minister added.