Kottayam: By recognising the Kerala government’s move to procure vegetables directly, Tamil Nadu had directed the farmers’ companies in the state to cooperate with its neighbour. The official approval for the guidelines came up. Following the discussions between the representatives of both states, Kerala has been procuring vegetables for the last four months.

14 tonnes of vegetables will reach from Chinnamanur and 5 tonnes from Tenkasi three days a week.

Rs 17 crore has been requested from Horticorp and the Department of Agriculture Development & Farmers' Welfare to strengthen the procurement. The Horticorp has to give Rs 6.5 crores to farmers in the state for regional procurement. The state government has been planning to expand the storage to more districts.

Through regional procurement of vegetables, farmers of the state get a marketing facility and it also helps to buy and sell vegetables from other states when Kerala faces a shortage in vegetable production, said the Managing Director of the Horticorp department, K Sajeev. The approval of Tamil Nadu will be an advantage for Kerala, said the MD.