Kochi, Jan 22 (Reporter) Amid its efforts to renovate the plantation sector with the aim of social development, Kerala must give importance to value addition and farming in fallow lands, Department of Industries Principal Secretary A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said on Monday. Timely makeover of the quarters for the plantation labourers has thus become a thrust area for authorities even as free-trade agreements have added to the crisis of the sector, he said at the valedictory function of the three-day Kerala Plantation Expo 2024 in the city. Also, the government has decided to earmark for plantations a considerable amount of World Bank-assisted KERA (Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernisation) that aims to guard agriculture against natural disasters, the senior bureaucrat revealed at the conclusion of the January 20-22 event by Plantation Directorate of the State Industries Department. The three days held an array of special business-to-business meets, business talks and panel discussions amid a grand showcase of the products and services in the sector. Today’s ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor saw the distribution of awards to the best performers at the expo. The Cottanad Plantations in Kozhikode emerged the topper among the large growers, while Jain Foods was judged the best among the small plantations. Electrolyte’s stall was declared the best service-provider and Sunaid Systems the startup. Martha Foods came first for value-added products, while Plantation Corporation of Kerala emerged the topper among the stalls by government institutions. Overall, the expo featured 166 stalls by 120 entrepreneurs. The valedictory function was addressed, among others, by Plantation Directorate Directorate Additional Director Dr K.S. Kripakumar, Association of Plantations of Kerala Chairman Prince Thomas George, Small Plantation Sector President Abu Abraham Thomas, Coffee Growers Association President Anoop P, Ernakulam District Industries Centre General Manager Najeeb P.A., his Wayanad District counterpart Ms Lissiamma Samuel and Plantation Directorate Deputy Director Jose Thomas. The expo, which was inaugurated by Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, featured live demonstrations on all three days, enabling the public to get first-hand knowledge of the products and services in the plantation sector. The event drew an impressive crowd on all three days, as the stalls remained opened from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. The first edition of the Plantation Expo was held in Thiruvananthapuram in February 2023...////...