Thiruvananthapuram: With the Tamil Nadu farmers turning hostile and threatening to stage a blockade at the check posts, a team from Horticorp visited Hosur, the border area of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, to ensure safe and adequate vegetables during Onam. A severe shortage of vegetables is looming large over the state during this Onam season when the demand is high.
Horticorp chairman K. Suresh Kumar told DC that a team had visited Krishnagiri taluk, a key location where tomato, cauliflower, cabbage and beans are produced on a large scale.
The team collected the samples of the items produced there which would be scrutinised in the laboratory to check the pesticide level.
“If the pesticide level is beyond limits we will write to the authorities there. We have decided not to procure contaminated vegetables. The authorities there had carried out awareness campaigns and we hope the pesticide levels are within permissible limit. Else we will have to boycott these farms,” he said.
He said that 95 percent of the tomatoes sold in the state are cultivated at Krishnagiri. “We have been in touch with the deputy director and assistant director of agriculture there. They were cooperative and we have sent the samples for scrutiny at the pesticide residue lab at the Agricultural University here,” said Mr Suresh Kumar.
Daily 200 loads of tomatoes are brought to Kerala. “Our primary objective is to promote and market local production. But we have to depend on other states for some of the items which are not produced in the state,” said Mr Suresh Kumar.
Around 250 truck loads of vegetables arrive in the state per day through various check posts. During Onam days, the demand goes up to 500 to 600 loads.
