Latest news with #Horticorp
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Two arrested for assaulting police officer
T'puram: Two known criminals assaulted an officer from Fort Police station while attempting to interfere with police duties at Pazhavangadi on Tuesday. The accused—Krishna Prasad (21) and Sharukh Khan (27), both residents of Thiruvallam—were arrested shortly after the incident. Prasad faces criminal cases across multiple police stations, while Khan previously served a one-year sentence under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. According to police, the duo, reportedly under the influence of drugs, were creating a public disturbance near Horticorp. When officers arrived following local complaints, they found the two assaulting a civilian. While trying to intervene, civil police officer Rahul T sustained serious injuries after being slapped and kicked by the accused. Other officers at the scene managed to subdue the duo and take them into custody. Fort police booked the accused on non-bailable sections of BNS and Kerala Police Act. As per data shared by the district crime records bureau, the number of attacks against cops rose to 37 in 2024 from 12 in 2022. TNN
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Honey park scripts sweet success
The country's first honeybee flora park (beekeeping centre), under the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp), at Kallimel near Mavelikara in Alappuzha is reaching new heights. Since its inception in 2018, the facility- which is also the first modern honey production, refining, and marketing centre in the government sector in the State- has procured over 50,000 kgs of honey from farmers. The collected honey is processed and sold under the brand name Amruth Honey, generating a daily revenue of up to ₹25,000. As part of its expansion, a honey museum is being planned within the centre. 'Efforts are under way to transform the beekeeping centre into a honey museum capable of attracting tourists. The centre has also received approval to set up a laboratory for farmers to test the quality of honey. Construction of the lab will begin within two months,' said M.S. Arun Kumar, MLA. The centre functions on three acres of land in Thazhakara grama panchayat. It was initially established to raise awareness about the benefits of beekeeping and has since undergone various phases of development. At present, it functions in three key areas: rearing honeybees and producing honey; procuring honey from farmers for scientific processing and marketing; and providing training to farmers. Officials said that the beekeeping centre houses around 200 beehives, primarily used to rear stingless bees and Indian honeybees. These hives alone produce about two tonnes of honey annually. 'The honey produced by farmers is directly procured at government-fixed rates. It is then scientifically processed to ensure quality and sold under the Amruth Honey brand in packs ranging from 50 grams to five kgs. The centre also produces value-added honey products, including honey soap,' an official said. Over the past seven years, more than 1,500 farmers have received training at the centre. Those who successfully complete the training are eligible to receive beehives and related equipment at a 40% subsidy through various Central and State government schemes.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Sweet treat: Nation's first honey museum to come up soon in Kerala
ALAPPUZHA: The first honey museum in the country will soon come up at Kallimel Beekeeping Centre at Thazhakkara panchayat in Mavelikkara. M S Arunkumar MLA said the state government has accorded sanction to set up the museum as part of the development of the beekeeping centre, which was established in 2018. 'The centre has also received permission to set up a lab for farmers to test the quality of honey, and the construction work will begin within two months,' Arunkumar said. The Horticorp constructed the centre in the three acres of land allotted by the Thazhakara panchayat as the country's first beekeeping park, which has a turnover to Rs 25,000 per day. 'More than 50,000 kg of honey has been collected from farmers, processed and sold as 'Amrit Honey' in this period. The project began with the reconstruction of the building at a cost of Rs 1 crore to create awareness about the benefits of bees. Later, more than Rs 2 crore was spent on the development activities of the centre in various phases,' the MLA said. The centre operates in three main ways: raising bees to produce honey, collecting honey from farmers, scientifically processing it and marketing it, and providing training to farmers. 'The beekeeping centre has about 200 beehives. Small bees and Indian bees are mainly bred in it. Two tonnes of honey are produced from these alone every year,' said Sunil B, regional manager Horticorp.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Nod for spending ₹11.20 crore on vegetable, coconut procurement under market intervention support scheme
The Agriculture department has given the nod for spending ₹11.20 crore on the procurement of vegetables and fruits and coconut. The decision is part of the market intervention programmes aimed at price stabilisation in the 2025-26 fiscal and also comes ahead of this year's Onam festival which falls in September. Of the ₹11.20 crore, the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (Horticorp) will spend ₹8 crore on procurement of essential vegetables and fruits, while Kerafed, which is the apex co-operative federation of coconut farmers in the State, will spend ₹2 crore on coconut procurement, a May 31 order issued by the department said. The government has also earmarked ₹38 lakh for Marketfed towards the State's share for the procurement of coconut and ₹82.60 lakh for expenses related to the Kerala farm-fresh fruits and vegetables scheme. The annual plan of the State government has set aside a total ₹21.50 crore for market intervention programmes aimed at keeping prices stable in the market in the 2025-26 fiscal. The proposal to give administrative sanction for the above allocations was approved at a working group meeting held on May 19.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Horticorp committed to procure all vegetables produced by farmers: Minister G R Anil
Thiruvananthapuram: Food and civil supplies minister G R Anil on Thursday said the govt agencies would procure all vegetables that farmers bring to the Nedumangad wholesale agri market for sale. He gave this assurance to the farmers during a visit there. The minister also said that necessary steps would be taken to make the procurement time-bound and hassle-free by making necessary changes in the online portals of the agriculture department and Horticorp. He said Horticorp would immediately release the vegetable price arrears pending for the past five months. Farmers are to get over Rs 48 lakh, pending from Jan to May. Anil, who also interacted with the farmers at a meeting convened by agriculture minister P Prasad, said Horticorp would ensure the procurement of all vegetables if the farmers could inform the authorities in advance about the details of their produce and the quantity and date on which the farmers would bring it to the wholesale market for procurement. The inconsistency in the procurement and the delay in the disbursal of payment were causing serious trouble to farmers in the Nedumangad region. The food and civil supplies minister said he was aware of the difficulties caused to farmers by certain officials of Horticorp at the wholesale market. He said the department would address such unfortunate incidents. Minister Prasad said the damaged freezer unit and toilet in the market would be repaired in a month. He said a single point contact number would be made available to farmers for interacting with the department. Prasad said farming could be attractive only when farmers sell value-added products using their produce. He said the govt was committed to helping farmers move in that direction and promised to address all practical issues raised by farmers at the meeting.
