KOTTAYAM: For the first time, the plantation corporation is using vacant lands coming under its estates to cultivate vegetables and fruits.
The plantation corporation which has primarily focused on cultivating commercial crops such as rubber, cashew and oil palm has taken this turn due to the falling price of rubber, and the losses suffered as a result of cultivating rubber. The profitability of engaging in vegetable and fruit cultivation has impressed them in the new venture.
“We have done vegetable cultivation on an experimental basis and found it to be profitable. The decision was because of the falling price of rubber. We will now focus on cultivating the vegetables extensively in the vacant lands in our estates,” Varghese George, chairman of plantation corporation told DC.
So far the corporation engaged in the cultivation of commercial crops, and the plantation has estates for rubber, cashew and oil palm spread over eight districts in the state.
The corporation cultivated vegetables such as spinach, ginger, brinjal, ladies finger among other vegetables in the vacant space coming under its estates. Fruits including Papaya, plantain, and other fruits will also be cultivated.
The plantation corporation has 15,000 acres of rubber, another 15, 000 acres of cashew, 2,000 acres of oil palm and 600 acres of Cinnamon.
Mr George added that though the corporation was planting vegetables extensively, it did not mean that the corporation was shifting its emphasis from commercial crops.
“The emphasis will not be shifted from the cultivation of commercial crops, but the vacant lands will be used for vegetable cultivation. We think we can derive profits from this gradually,” Mr George added.
