NCDC aid for various projects in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The cumulative developmental assistance to Kerala by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has reached Rs 1,250 crore.

In the agro-processing sector, NCDC has so far disbursed over Rs 274 crore in the State and the major beneficiaries include the Kerala State Rubber Cooperative Ltd (Rubco), Kerala State Cooperative Coir Marketing Federation (Coirfed), Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation (Rubbermark), Kerala State Agro Cooperative Ltd (Agreenco) and Regional Agro Industrial Development Cooperative of Kerala (Raidco).

According to Mr B.R. Nair, Regional Director of NCDC, a number of agro-processing industries have been set up in the State with the assistance of the corporation, ranging from rubber-based coir mattress units, pineapple processing facilities, footwear manufacture to wheat processing units.

A chain of Integrated Cooperative Development Projects, at a block cost of Rs 160 crore, has been established with NCDC assistance in 14 districts of the State.

This helped in creating basic infrastructure and banking facilities, setting up of value addition projects and extensive computerisation of cooperatives.

For marketing, input distribution and consumer business, NCDC has provided around Rs 133 crore.

This is meant to facilitate agencies such as Rubbermark, Raidco and a host of primary cooperative societies to play a major role in the market, safeguarding the interests of the growers as well as consumers.

In the fisheries sector, around 50,000 traditional fishermen have been provided so far with financial support to the tune of Rs 164 crore under NCDC-funded Integrated Fisheries Development Project.

Being implemented through the Kerala State Cooperative Federation for Fisheries Development (Matsyafed), the project has, among other things, helped fishermen acquire modern fishing and marketing inputs.

Apart from these, NCDC has extended short-term loan assistance of Rs 620 crore as working capital for agricultural and allied activities.

The corporation is holding its 32nd meeting of the State Level Review and Implementation Committee here on December 11, 2008. The meeting will review the progress of assisted projects as also the likely flow of funds to the State during the current year.