Locally produced veggies flavour of Onam season

Kudumbasree, VFPCK to tap market; premises of schools, colleges turn fertile grounds

As the State moves towards its annual harvest festival of Onam, a few paddy shoots that grew up on the flanks of the busy national highway near the Palarivattom flyover in Kochi present a pleasant surprise. Thulasi Kakkat

The scale and enthusiasm with which different groups of people have taken up vegetable cultivation to ensure the availability of safe-to-eat produce during Onam have multiplied ever since the first efforts were made a few seasons back. The premises of schools and colleges; police stations and party offices have turned into fertile grounds, thanks to a massive drive towards self-sufficiency.

The formally organised groups that have led the efforts in the district include the Kudumbasree Mission, and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK).

Around 1,800 hectares have come under vegetable cultivation in the district under the VFPCK. Another 2,400 hectares have come under ‘nendran’ variety of banana, which is in great demand during the Onam season. VFPCK expects around 12 to 18 tonnes of vegetables per hectare.

Women in self-help groups under the Kudumbasree Mission have brought around 2,800 hectares under cultivation of vegetables, bananas and tuvers. Around 900 hectares are under vegetable cultivation, and 600 hectares under ‘nendran’ banana.

The Kudumbasree has also begun organising pre-Onam markets, and it is expected that by the Onam day, three pre-Onam markets could be organised every week in each of the 14 blocks of the district. There will be a total of 168 pre-Onam markets this season under the Kudumbasree Mission, which expects to produce about 380 tonnes of vegetables for the Onam market.

The Palliyakkal Service Cooperative Bank, which has made great strides in equipping farmers under its wings, has brought about 2,500 acres under vegetable cultivation with an eye on the pre-Onam market. M.P. Vijayan of the Service Cooperative Bank said that 2,500 self-help groups had around 30,000 farmers under them.

VFPCK sources said key vegetable belts in the district included Kakkad; Edakkattuvayal; Thiruvaniyoor and Mazhuvannoor around Piravom; Malayattoor, Ayampuzha and Manjapra near Angamaly; Kunnukara and Puthenvelikkara on the Thrissur-Ernakulam district border; and Keerampara, Paingattoor and Pothanikkad near Kothamangalam.