An organic vegetable market for Onam

The Kerala Karshaka Sangam plans to launch a farmers’ market at the grama panchayat level from Onam onwards to make available organic vegetables at a reasonable price.

There will be a farmers’ group at the ward level to engage in organic farming, to be monitored and supported at the block level.

Karshaka Sangam district president C.V. Varghese told

The Hindu on Thursday that the KKS would act as an umbrella organisation without a political colour and any group or individual could join the initiative for which a format has been drawn up.

Training in organic farming would be imparted at the grassroots to make the initiative a success.

The farmers are, at present, reluctant to turn to organic cultivation as they fear they may incur losses. Their fears have to be addressed and a reasonable price must be ensured.

The initiative will have the support of Krishi Bhavan and non-governmental organisations that have similar approaches.

According to P.S. Prassannan of Parappu local committee, farmers’ groups had already been formed in many wards and the movement had their support.

Land considered fallow would also be brought under cultivation and the members of the groups had already identified cultivable areas, he said.

A mechanism would be evolved so that only organic vegetables were sold at the farmers’ market, Mr. Prassannan added.