Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) by planting cashew saplings at the Palkulanagara factory on February 26.
‘‘Fifty elderly cashew labourers will join him in planting the saplings. The Corporation is planning year-long programmes to revive the industry and ensure maximum working days for the labourers,’’ said KSCDC chairman S. Jayamohan at a press conference here on Friday.
Minister for Cashew Industry J. Mercykutty Amma will preside over the function, while Forests Minister K. Raju will speak on the occasion. Fifty labourers and staff who joined the Corporation during the time of its formation will be honoured.
All the 30 factories of the Corporation have undergone a high-tech makeover as part of the golden jubilee and the Chief Minister will dedicate the renovated factory complexes on the occasion.
‘‘All the factories of the KSCDC will now have different sections for shelling, peeling and grading along with dining room, toilet blocks, creche and study room. Cashew parks and canteens will be part of the factories,’’ he said.
The KSCDC is planning to open outlets at all factories from where the public can purchase cashew and other value-added products at reasonable rates. ‘‘We already have 18 value-added products and we will launch 32 more this year. The KSCDC will have a total of 50 value-added products in the jubilee year,’’ he said.
Kottiyam, the first factory of the Corporation, will get a cashew museum and model cashew farm as part of the jubilee celebrations.
12,000 labourers
The KSCDC has currently employed 12,000 labourers and in connection with the LDF government completing 1,000 days in office 1,000 more labourers will be inducted in February. ‘‘By next month, we will recruit 2,000 more labourers and they will be provided work without any break from March,’’ he said.
