The Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) has welcomed the policy direction outlined in the Governor’s address, saying the proposals on agriculture, revenue administration, forest management and industrial development reflect a pragmatic and forward-looking approach to resolving long-pending issues faced by plantations and farmers in the State.The association particularly welcomed the government’s commitment to scientifically revising land-use restrictions in plantations, allowing diversification while safeguarding ecological balance, updating outdated land laws, ensuring unconditional land tenure security, resolving agricultural-forest boundary disputes and addressing human-wildlife conflict through structured containment, mitigation and compensation measures.Ajith Balakrishnan, secretary, APK said the focus on improving farm incomes, promoting value addition, food processing, agri-technology, mechanisation, entrepreneurship and industrial growth, along with plans to create a land bank and strengthen support for traditional sectors including plantations, could pave the way for a new phase of growth in Kerala’s plantation economy.These measures can generate substantial new employment opportunities, attract fresh investments, encourage diversification and innovation, and stimulate economic activity across rural Kerala. The benefits will extend beyond plantations to thousands of workers, small farmers, transporters, traders and service providers who depend directly and indirectly on the sector for their livelihoods.The Government has hit the ground running by articulating a clear vision and demonstrating a willingness to address difficult issues that have remained unresolved for decades. If these policy announcements are implemented in the right earnest and within a defined timeframe, they can re-energize the rural economy, strengthen investor confidence, improve employment prospects and contribute significantly to the State’s revenues and overall economic development, he said.The momentum created through these announcements should now continue with equal vigour during the implementation phase so that the intended benefits reach the farming and plantation sectors at the earliest, he added.Published on May 29, 2026