After successfully experimenting with the cow and goat village projects, the Kunnamangalam grama panchayat has come out with a new scheme —‘Jaivasree’— for promoting organic vegetable cultivation among rural farmers.
The project, mainly designed to encourage toxic-free farming ventures in home yards — was formally launched by Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan at Kunnamangalam on Saturday.
Panchayat authorities said ‘Jaivasree’ would fund for setting up organic vegetable gardens in nearly 1,400 houses in the first phase. Grow bags, seeds, and organic manure would be supplied free of cost to the farmers as part of the initiative, they said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Panchayat president M.P. Asokan said the project was given the green signal after noticing the warm response of farmers towards such projects implemented earlier in the panchayat. He added that Kudumbasree members and other self-help groups too would be provided an opportunity to be part of the new scheme in their own ways. The panchayat also would join the scheme by undertaking viable organic farming ventures in select locations, he added.
In the current fiscal, the panchayat would invest Rs.10 lakh for ‘Jaivasree.’ Other possible funds from the Agriculture Department too would be sourced to bring more households under the scheme.
Panchayat authorities said that the increasing production of organic vegetables would naturally result in reducing the inflow of toxic vegetables from neighbouring States. It would also arrest the price rise of essential vegetables in the domestic market as was seen during Vishu this year, they said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Organic vegetable gardens in 1,400 houses in Phase I
Panchayat to invest Rs.10 lakh
this fiscal