Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today announced that the state would give an impetus to poultry farming, fish farming and animal husbandry to increase self-sufficiency in these sectors. The State would seek NABARD’s help in implementing these schemes. Cooperative societies would cater to additional loans to expand the production in these sectors.

The Chief Minister said the capacity of poultry farming would be increase to give 75 lakhs additional egg production. The Kerala Chicken project would be spread across the State to increase egg and chicken meat availability and 200 new outlets would be opened.

With increase milk production, the State would set up a new milk powder plant and an ultra pasteurisation plant for UHT milk production. The state would also explore the production of new value-added products from milk apart from cheese and yoghurt.

The CM also called for the modernisation of the fisheries sector. Big reservoirs, dams, ponds and freshwater lakes would be used for fish farming. The government also plans to explore fish farming at sea using the latest technology and modern methods. The idea is to increase the production of fresh water prawns, saltwater prawns, mussels, prom fret, kingfish, etc.

Minister of Health & Social Justice, Smt K K Shailaja; Revenue Minister, Shri E Chandrasekharan, and Chief Secretary, Shri Tom Jose IAS were also present during the media briefing.