Couple make organic food easily available to middle and lower classes.
Chennai: Even though Rekha Ramu believed that mother's milk provided the best nutrients for a child better than formula or other baby food she was in for her surprise when she found that even breast milk contained DDT.
On further study, Rekha found that the food (including popularly recommended greens) she was eating contained DDT. This prompted her and her husband to find out more about organic food. The couple then started discovering ways in which organic food can be cheaper and more easily accessible to middle and lower classes.
The couple along with 16 others run the Organic Farmers Market (OFM) in 16 different parts of the city and by establishing OFM, they have aimed at bringing down the prices of organic vegetables to benefit all sections of society.
“We get the organically grown vegetables directly from farmers and pay for our own transport, so there is no money spent in that aspect. Also, we don’t use any brand and are not heavily dependent on any brand to supply us with the food,” she explained. OFM does not have set demands for the farmer. “ When there is a set requirement, then the farmers tend to indulge in bad practices and the vegetables could be adulterated.
So OFM buys only whatever the farmer has. If he has very less of one vegetable and more of another then they sell the same, buying whatever is available in bulk.” The OFM doesn’t sell the vegetables packed or only in certain quantities, Rekha explained that customers could buy just one brinjal or two potatoes and pay for that.
All the 16 members make it a point to visit at least two farms in a month and spend the whole day with the farmers to make sure that no pesticides are used, also claiming that the time spent with farmers helped to know them and their work better.
Since members themselves are in direct contact with the farmers, there are no middlemen. “ We ask farmers at what prices they want to sell and accept whatever prices they quote. So, sometimes the prices could differ according to where it comes from,” said the founder.
The cooperatives also ensure that farmers are paid immediately with no delays and prefer to work with small time farmers, as they can make sure that organic foods are grown the correct way. OFM also makes sure they procure traditional vegetables and don’t pressurise farmers to grow any crop unsuitable for the weather, “ Big corporate organic companies also invest a lot of money on advertisements, packaging and branding.
On the other hand, OFM does not spend money in this regard, in turn succeeding in making healthy organic food available to society.
Do-it-yourself kit to promote terrace gardening
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the do-it-yourself kit to promote roof-top vegetable gardens in Chennai and Coimbatore. The kit costs Rs 1,325 and can be applied online or can be bought from the horticulture department in the city. Up to five kits can be purchased using just one registration.
Bhasker, who has had a passion for over five years in terrace gardening highly recommends the kit for all starters, “ For anyone who has newly developed a passion for terrace gardening the kit is a great help. It contains things like neem oil that fights off pests and ensures the good health of the plant.” However, he does not prefer the coco peat that comes with the kit and prefers to make his own fertiliser with coconut residual from his own kitchen.
For those who get the initial head-start and then throw themselves into the hobby, end up needing more than the kit to sustain their gardens. Nevertheless, Bhasker recommends that those interested can send queries to him to procure the DIY kit from Madhavaram horticulture department, “ I tell all those who call me with questions that it is best to start with the kit and give them the address and procedure of buying one,” he added. The customer has to produce a photo copy of the address proof to procure the kit.
