In the background of high pesticide content found in fruits and vegetables brought to Kerala from farms in Tamil Nadu, the seed processing plant of government-owned Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) at Alathur is all prepared to promote organic vegetable cultivation across the State in a big way by making available quality seeds and bio fertilizers.
The agency, which completed 20 years this month, will soon start a Statewide campaign promoting organic vegetable cultivation. The seed growers association under it with 104 members would develop pesticide-free seeds to distribute among interested individuals and groups.
Talking to The Hindu , seed processing plant manager N. Thomas Cherian said the State needs quality seeds and seedlings to achieve self-sufficiency in growing pesticide-free vegetables. The plant is now focussing on evolving such seeds to keep the State free from pesticide effects. From this Onam, vegetables grown under supervision of the agency would be available across the State.
Apart from seeds, it would also develop and supply vermicompost, coir pith compost, powdered cow dung, cow urine, panchagavya, fish amino acid, EM solution, Neem cakes, bone meal, grow bag, and seedling trays to interested vegetable growers. It will also distribute organic pesticides and fertilizers sourced from reputed agencies from across the country.
According to Mr. Cherian, the council had supplied 5,3543 kg seeds and 36 lakh seedlings during the last fiscal. This year, the quantity would be doubled. The number of tissue culture plants
supplied during last year was 5.2 lakh. As many as 3.19 lakh fruit grafts had also been supplied. The total revenue out of selling seeds and seedlings was Rs.8.2 crore.
In its 20 years of existence, the council was able to generate and supply 500 tonnes of seeds from the Alathur unit. It had also ensured Palakkad the prime position on the vegetable cultivation map of Kerala. In a bid to completely move into eco-friendly ways, the unit had recently installed plants for solar power generation, bio-gas generation and rainwater harvesting.
