Heightened concerns about the high levels of pesticides and chemicals in food articles are pushing many to look out for organic products in the city.
The increasing number of customers at Organic Bazar, an outlet located in Jawahar Nagar in Thiruvananthapuram that promises quality organic products, is proof enough of this increasing demand for authentic organic products.
When set up in 2003, ‘Organic Bazar’ functioned by providing a few local residents with vegetables collected from the kitchen gardens they promoted, in what was essentially a small monthly affair.
The establishment has come a long way since then, currently sourcing groceries and other home care products from all over the country having Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and Thanal International Certification Services (ICS) endorsement
It has now grown into a full-fledged shop open from 11 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on all days except Sundays, generating an average income of Rs. 7 to 8 lakh monthly and has been made a private organisation of its own, independent from Thanal, the founding organisation.
By expanding their product range along the years, making available nutritious brown rice to organic ragi based baby food substitutes, they have carved out a niche market.
Organic produces are in demand as they are believed to be free of pesticides and chemicals.
Organic farmers make use of trap crops instead of pesticides that lure the pests away from the main crop leaving them uninfected. Eco-friendly liquid fertilizers and the method of multiple cropping employed increases crop yield and facilitates the production of a variety of crops at the same time.
New outlet
Given the increasing demand for its products, Thanal is planning a new outlet. “Currently we are working on providing technical support to new growers who are mostly IT professionals or retired government employees,” says R. Deepak, programme officer, Thanal.
Sruthi Ashok
