Tiki Rajwi

In an age when agricultural revival remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Kerala, a ‘Kerala Agricultural Transformation Policy 2031’ drafted by the Director of the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) here has recommended a mission-mode approach to making the sector sustainable, profitable and climate-resilient by 2031.

Proposals for six flagship missions, a Kerala Agricultural Transformation Mission (KATM) and agricultural land protection zones and district-level agricultural transformation plans figure prominently in the roadmap prepared by CTCRI director G. Byju. The six ‘flagship missions’ focus on productivity increase, food and nutritional security, climate-resilience, farmer collectivisation and agri-businesses, innovation and digital agriculture (smart farming) and land use and institutional reform.

Goals include an annual farm sector growth rate of 4%-5%, “at least” 50% hike in farmer incomes, restoration of 75,000 hectares of fallow land to farming, creation of 750-1000 farmer producer organisations (FPO) and 500 climate-smart villages and 25 lakh digitally-connected farmers. The policy document also envisions doubling the value of agri and allied exports by 2031.

According to Dr. Byju, the proposed KATM would provide the institutional backbone for coordinating and accelerating implementation across government departments, local governments, research institutions, farmer organisations and the private sector.

So, why is there a need for an Agricultural Transformation Policy for Kerala? Dr. Byju says Kerala’s farm sector now confronts “a new generation” of challenges. These include declining cultivated area, fragmentation of landholdings, labour shortage, climate change, increasing frequency of floods, droughts and landslides, human-wildlife conflict, rising production costs, market volatility and growing dependence on external sources for food commodities.

“These challenges are further compounded by rapid demographic changes, ageing farmers and increasing pressure on land and natural resources. The Kerala Development Report 2026 and Economic Review 2025 of the Kerala State Planning Board highlight the urgent need for a new development paradigm that simultaneously addresses productivity, food security, climate resilience, sustainability, innovation and farmer prosperity,” the policy document says.

According to Dr. Byju, the future of the State’s farm sector cannot be secured through incremental improvements alone, but it calls for bold, up-front strategies that stress convergence, decentralised planning, scientific land-use management, digital transformation, climate adaptation and outcome-based governance.

As for the financial footprint of ‘Kerala Agricultural Transformation Policy 2031,’ it would involve a total investment of ₹20,000 crore-₹25,000 crore (2026-2031). The funds can be raised through the State and Central governments, local bodies, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and institutional finance, public-private-partnerships and climate finance and green funds, the document suggests.