Title deeds of land not compulsory: Mani

KOCHI: The government will not insist on furnishing title deeds while applying for farmers’ pension, Finance Minister K M Mani said in Kochi on Saturday.
The farmers who have possession certificate of  the land are eligible for the pension, the minister said at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Karashaka Union(M) at Bharthiya Vidhyabhavan Hall in Ernakulam.
Mani said that the 2012 State Budget has laid emphasis on agricultural production and increase in the farmer’s income, with
the aim of reducing cases
of farmer suicides in the state. “There will not be a single case of farmers committing suicide owing to debt in the coming years. Also, within five years, the state economy will witness a huge growth, with traditional farming making way for high-tech methods,” he said. The Minister added that the budget also focused on modernisation of agricultural practices. The proposal to step up greenhouses and rice bio-parks were steps in this direction.
“Three coconut bio-parks and two rice bio-parks will be set up in Palakkad and Kuttanad respectively. The state government has earmarked a significant sum to promote pineapple cultivation,” he said.Mani added that the government will look into the suggestion of establishing a Karshaka Welfare Board.