KOCHI: On Gandhi Jayanti Day, the Ernakulam district administration initiated a novel vegetable farming project at the civil station compound. The authorities introduced growbag farming system for vegetable cultivation with the objective of creating awareness on modern farming practices among the public. On Gandhi Jayanti day, district collector M.G Rajamanickam inaugurated the project and saplings were planted in more than 250 grow bags provided by the Agriculture Department.
Civil Station Farming Society headed by principal agriculture officer P.K Ummar has been constituted to coordinate the innovative project. Officials of various departments at the civil station will associate with the farming initative. To conserve water, micro irrigation system was being used for irrigation, said farming society chairperson C. S Shaila.
Additional district magistrate B. Ramachandran, deputy collectors S. Shanavas, K.M Varghese, Maggie Cimmenthi, public relations deputy director K. S Sudha, Kudumbasree district mission coordinator Tany Thomas, employees of various departments and Kudumbasree workers participated in the farming initiative and the cleaning drive organised as part of Gandhi Jayanti.
Several government and civic organisations in the city have been successfully practicing vegetable farming. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has been doing organic farming. The Authority has grown even cool-weather crops like cauliflower and cabbage and used to supply the produce to its canteen and staff. The paddy cultivated at the GCDA office compound will be harvested on October 7 which will be inaugurated by Justice V.R Krishna Iyer.
