: A large acreage under certified organic vegetable crops at Perumkulam, near Kottarakara, is ready for harvest. But there are few buyers since the prices are higher than the vegetables available in the local market, which have been sourced from Tamil Nadu..
Talking to The Hindu , C. Narendranath, farmer, said though there was a clamour for organically grown vegetables and the government had declared that the State would be converted into an organic food-producing State within two years, government support for such initiatives was yet to take off.
No insecticides even
“So far, there has been no instance of a Krishi Bhavan in the State giving any encouragement for organic farming,” he said..
Mr. Narendranath does not even spray insecticides on the crops leave alone chemical fertilizers.
The fertility of his farm completely depends on water and organic manure. Hence, the crops may not look as rich as vegetable crops in other farms.
But they are genuinely organic; he says. He alleged that fake organic farm products on supermarket shelves were being sold at double the price. But Mr. Narendranath’s farm is open for everyone to see and he spends an amount each year to get it organically certified. Vegetable traders who visit his farm want the produce at the rates they pay in Tamil Nadu. The only encouragement for Mr. Narendranath is that he has a handful of regular customers from various parts of the district. They travel long distances to purchase vegetables from his farm for their household use. At times, he informs his clients in advance and transports the vegetables in an autorickshaw to their location. Even his repeated pleas through formal petitions for a bunk in Kollam city are not being considered, he said.
Mr. Nardendranath said there should be concerted efforts on the part of the government towards promoting organic farming,
