The Palliyakkal Service Cooperative Bank will lead the initiative for organic vegetable and flower availability in Ernakulam district during the Onam season.
The bank, which has already set an example for self-reliance in vegetable and rice production, has brought about 30 acres under vegetable cultivation with an eye on the Onam festival market, said secretary M. P. Vijayan.
The acreage under vegetable and flower cultivation is mostly in small holdings with everyone from retired government employees to homemakers participating in the programme.
Mr. Vijayan said around two lakh seedlings for a flower-growing campaign, recently launched by the CPI(M) in Ernakulam district, were supplied by farmers under the Palliyakkal bank’s care.
He said the bank had taken the initiative recently to launch integrated farming for making people self-sufficient in food production. The integrated farming programme includes cultivation of vegetables, rice, aquaculture, poultry farming and dairying.
The Palliyakkal bank, near Ezhikkara, has been in the forefront of organic cultivation of vegetables and self-reliance in food production over the last 17 years with the initiative having been launched in 2000.
Mr. Vijayan said the stalls selling vegetables produced by farmers under the bank’s care had good response.
The bank has around 9,400 members and a deposit base of ₹58 crore and ₹40 outstanding loan. Farming activities are spread over 28 groups in six zones. There are around 1,200 farmers under the bank’s care.
Meanwhile, sources in the district unit of the CPI(M) said that around 1,500 acres are being brought under vegetable cultivation ahead of Onam. Produce from these farms will be sold through 300 outlets for three days ahead of Thiruvonam. At the same time, there will be festive sale of locally-produced vegetables and fruits at the Rajendra Maidan for 10 days starting from the Atham day.
