Sat Dec 07 14:30:18 UTC 2024: ## World Bank Approves ₹2,765 Crore for Kerala’s Agricultural Sector
**ALAPPUZHA, KERALA –** The World Bank has approved a ₹2,765 crore ($337 million USD approx.) project to bolster Kerala’s agricultural sector, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad announced Saturday. This marks the largest single allocation to the state’s agriculture sector since 1950.
The funding will significantly upgrade the state’s agricultural infrastructure and practices. A key component is ₹500 crore ($61 million USD approx.) dedicated to improving paddy cultivation. Additionally, a new agri-mall will be constructed in Ambalappuzha at a cost of ₹36 crore ($4.4 million USD approx.), consolidating agricultural products, equipment, and services under one roof. A weather-based crop insurance scheme will also be implemented to protect farmers from yield losses due to adverse weather conditions.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of a new Kerala Centre for Pest Management (KCPM) office in Alappuzha, equipped with a bio-input lab and plant health clinic. The new facility will focus on pest and disease control. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including MLA H. Salam and Alappuzha district panchayat president K.G. Rajeshwari.
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