Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 10 (IANS) Hit by successive drought in many areas and farmer suicides, Kerala submitted a Rs.56.65 billion-agriculture revival proposal to visiting Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar here Sunday.

Pawar, who held detailed discussions with Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and six cabinet colleagues, told newsmen later that Kerala's situation would be looked into with a lot of seriousness.

"Even though Kerala has submitted similar packages before, I have come to see the situation for myself. I will visit the affected districts and take an appropriate decision about the package," he said.

The Rs.56.65-billion package includes a Rs.34.12 billion revival package for five drought-affected districts - Palakkad, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Idukki and Alappuzha - and Rs.22.53 billion for the entire agriculture sector in the state.

Over 500 suicides have been recorded in the state, especially Wayanad and Idukki districts, since 2001.

Broadly outlining the proposed package, Pawar said that the state could look forward to funds for debt relief, interest waiver, irrigation, watershed management and also for supplementing the income of farmers through dairy, poultry and fish farming,

The state has also demanded Rs.3.5 billion for takeover of nearly 22 tea factories in the private sector where more than 25,000 employees are without jobs.

Pawar later left for Alappuzha to visit the Kuttanad area, once known as the state's granary.

"The problems of Kuttanad are manifold. Alappuzha district suffered heavily also due to the December 2004 tsunami," said Achuthanandan.

To a question on his proposed meeting with veteran Kerala politician, K. Karunakaran, Pawar said his priority in Kerala was to find a solution to the woes of farmers.

However, according to reports Pawar is likely to meet Karunakaran and his son K. Muraleedharan at Kozhikode on Tuesday to discuss a possible merger of Karunakaran's Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) with Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.

Pawar will visit Kozhikode and Wayanad on Sep 12. He is to leave for Mumbai the next day from Kozhikode.