The Eraviperoor grama panchayat launched harvesting of organically cultivated vegetables for Vishu in Ward 15 of the panchayat on Tuesday.
President N. Rajeev said the panchayat launched organic vegetable farming on four acres in the Peruva fields three months ago. The decision to launch cultivation in the Peruva fields that had been lying fallow for several years had generated much enthusiasm among the villagers, he said.
Mr. Rajeev said the farming project was launched in association with a residents’ association in the panchayat ward and the Agriculture Department.
The panchayat handed over the entire land to the Kailash Nagar Residents Association to ensure active involvement of the villagers in the project.
The idea was to produce vegetables to meet the requirements of 94 families in the association for the Vishu festival.
Mr. Rajeev said 600 kg cucumber, 25 kg beans, 25 kg each of bitter gourd and snake gourd, and 325 kg of spinach were harvested on the first day. The entire produce was sold through a panchayat outlet on Tuesday, he said.
He said the local body would extend its organic vegetable cultivation programme to the other panchayat wards soon.
