Idukki readies for Onam harvest

Cool-season vegetables cultivated in Vattavada and Kanthallur in the district

The Swayasraya Karshaka Vipani at Kanthallur in Idukki district on Friday.

Vegetable procurement from Vattavada and Kanthallur, the hub of cool-season vegetables in the State, has steadily increased with the arrival of the main season beginning from Onam.

Though the official Onam procurement will start only by this month end, preparations for harvesting have begun.

Principal Agriculture Officer P.G. Ushakumari said on Friday that the weekly procurement of potato and cabbage was 90 tonnes and 70 tonnes respectively. Carrot was being procured at 15 tonnes per month. She said the procurement would go up further, as there would be 1,500 Onam markets in the State this year.

The aim, she said, was to procure vegetables at 10% higher than the market rate and sell at 30% less than the market price. The Onam markets would have three sections of vegetables — organic, GAP (vegetables produced by the cluster units through Good Agriculture Practice), and those procured from outside the State.

K. Jayaprakash, president, Vattavada Cool Season Vegetable Producing Farmers Society, said an average of 50 tonnes of vegetables were being sent daily from Vattavada. Beans was mainly purchased by businessmen from Tamil Nadu. There was a slump in production, though more areas were brought under cultivation, he said. This was because of the long dry spell and delayed sowing. Some farmers lost their crops in cloudbursts. There were also complaints that farmers were not paid promptly after procuring vegetables.

Buyers from TN

O.K. Mohanraj, a farmer, said he was yet to get his July dues. Mr. Mohanraj said it was true that Horticorp procured vegetables at a price higher than those offered by businessmen.

“However, we need not wait for long for payment,” he said, adding that it was the main reason for selling vegetables to Tamil Nadu businessmen.

Earlier, the amount used to be credited to the account of the society in which all the farmers are members. “Now the payment is made directly to the farmer’s account,” said Mr. Jayaprakash. He said the Onam procurement would be a success only if the Horticorp and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, Keralam (VFPCK) promptly paid dues.