A group of entrepreneurs in the agri-processing sector is set to launch a new project to supply ‘safe to eat’ vegetables to households. The programme is to be launched in the three districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam and Thrissur by the end of the month.
The plan is to process vegetables procured from farms and supply to the households. About 400 tonnes of vegetables are to be processed daily. A technology to get rid of the impurities including pesticide content from vegetables has been acquired from Thailand, according to Balram, the head of the project. The processed vegetables will be supplied to households under a ‘safe to eat’ tag.
“Much of the vegetables that we consume are reaching the market with a wax coating that provides a fresh look to the produce; the wax coating will not go away even if the vegetables are washed thoroughly”, says G.Srikumar, coordinator of the programme. The technology is meant to remove the wax coating as well as pesticide content, he says. The processed product is tested by employing a technology developed by Kerala Agricultural University, he said. Several vegetables marketed under the organic title, without the organic certification from recognised entities, have been found to have harmful contents including pesticide residue. So it is more appropriate to have the ‘safe to eat’ tag, he argues.He claimed that the vegetables will be fresh as the supply will take place within 24 hours of procurement. Units of NSS have been involved in the distribution, he said.
About 8 lakh packets, each of one kg and half kg are to be supplied per day. Thirty varieties of vegetables, generally consumed by Keralites have been selected for supply. Processing plants have already been set up at Thodupuzha and Chalakudy. The consignments are to be sold at market rates.
