Coop. bank’s drive gives boost to tapioca farming

The govt. had included dried tapioca in people’s monthly ration kit on a trial basis

As the State government announced recently its decision to include dried tapioca in the monthly food kits, the occasion also marked the successful culmination of a campaign of the Kanamala Service Cooperative Bank in Kottayam. The bank, located in Erumely grama panchayat, kick-started a campaign to include dried tapioca - a staple for hundreds of families in Central Travancore - in the monthly ration in view of the struggles faced by tapioca farmers in the aftermath of COVID-19. While area under the crop had increased considerably during the lockdown period, the bumper harvest led to a sharp fall in prices from ₹20 to ₹7 per kg.