The Kudumbasree district mission has launched ‘Harithasree,’ a project to promote organic farming among its subgroups.
The Kudumbasree subgroups which are already into collective farming will switch to organic farming, by avoiding artificial fertilizers and pesticides. The mission envisages bringing these products to the market in time for next Onam.
The initiative was inaugurated by M.K. Raghavan, MP, at the Malabar Christian College here on Sunday. He said that the Central government’s focus was on promoting organic farming.
In a move to ensure food security, the ‘Harithasree’ groups will take up cultivation in lands that have been left fallow. A survey has been completed and a databank prepared to identify fallow land suitable for cultivation.
Technical team
A technical team involving farming experts and agriculture officers have been formed to provide technical training to the farming groups.
The products will be marketed through the ‘home shop system’ which has its presence in 28 grama panchayats and two Corporations.
“As part of Onam this year, Kudumbasree is conducting trade fairs at 80 different locations in the district and panchayat-levels. We are expecting sales to the tune of Rs.2 crore. Though our products are of top quality, our packaging has not been that attractive. So, this time around, we have concentrated on professional packaging of our products,” said K.K. Muhammed Faisal, District Mission Co-ordinator of Kudumbasree.
More than 4,500 of the Kudumbasree entrepreneurs are taking part in the fairs.
Considering the increasing acceptability of its products, the Kudumbasree and local self-governing bodies are planning to set up permanent selling points for the entrepreneurs. The trade fairs are an initial step in this direction.
Onam celebrations
Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayats M.K. Muneer inaugurated the Onam celebrations of the Kudumbasree district mission at the Town Hall here earlier in the day.
