KOCHI: The City Corporation in association with Kudumbasree Mission has launched a safe to eat vegetable programme to ensure availability of enough organic vegetables for the Onam festival season. Under the programme called 'Onam kazhcha' members of the more than 1500 self-help groups in the city areas will be engaged for vegetable cultivation.
The civic body has identified small plots of three cents and five cents in various parts of the city for the organic farming initiative. "Common short-term crops like cowpea, spinach, green chili and brinjal will be cultivated. Preparation of plots for cultivation will be done on Sunday," said A.B Sabu, Corporation Welfare Standing Committee chairman. The Corporation will also be conducting a competition for self help groups and the best performing groups will be given prizes.
The agriculture department will give technical inputs for organic cultivation without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Produce from the special farming initiative will be marketed through the Onam special trade fair to be conducted from September 7 to 10.
With increased awareness on the health hazards caused by pesticide-sprayed vegetables brought from other states, organic farming has become popular. Many residents associations, NGOs, political parties, cooperative societies and self-help groups in the district have been successfully cultivating vegetables and fruits organically.
