From December 21 to 25 this year, each of the 101 houses under the Niravu Residents’ Association in Vengeri, Kozhikode will become one big exhibition stall. The houses will be open for any one who is interested in the 101 sustainable models in agriculture, waste management, water conservation, energy conservation and information technology that ‘Niravu Vengeri’ has been propagating successfully for the past 10 years.
‘Midori’ means green
The exhibition is named ‘Midori’ after a Japanese word that means ‘green’. The name has been selected in honour of the Japanese, who with their will power and determination, rebuilt their nation from the ashes of the Second World War.
Midori is a venture of the new generation of ‘Niravu’, who amidst their busy schedule in schools and colleges, have found time to learn the farming culture and practise it.
Logo released
They learned the techniques from Cheruvayal Raman in Wayanad known for his collection of rare rice breeds and K.B.R. Kannan in Kannur, known for his organic farming practices. The duo released the logo of ‘Midori’ on Wednesday.
The younger generation ‘Niravu’ residents are also planning to publish a book on all that they have learned.
“More than 85 per cent of the residences in this association have two working members. Yet, they manage to do their bit in farming, waste management, energy and water conservation. Hundreds of people visit ‘Niravu’ every year to see our models. This is an opportunity for those who haven’t,” said Babu Parambath, project coordinator of Niravu Vengeri, which has over the years become synonymous with waste management in the district.
There is a member in Niravu who lives in 1.5 cents of land, and yet cultivates on his terrace. There is just one cow of native breed for all houses in the association, whose urine and dung is made good use of. While one house showcases mushroom cultivation, another will have an efficient mini solar plant. In one house you can learn LED bulb manufacturing while another is a museum of endangered seeds.
Visitors get to learn the working of a biogas plant as well as wine manufacturing. They can see how streets are kept clean and how the younger generation of ‘Niravu’ do not need an IT park to make websites, Mr.Parambath explained the nuances of ‘Midori’.
