THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The agriculture department’s latest venture, farm fresh vegetables at affordable rates during Onam season, will not achieve the desired results, say department officials. They fear the department may not be able to sustain the initiative though it is being held only during September 9-13. The authorities have planned to buy pesticide-free vegetables from farmers and farmer clusters, which will sell them at a 30 percent discount rate.
Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunil Kumar had announced last week that farm fresh vegetables would be sold through 1,350 outlets across the state during the festive period. The department is aiming to procure vegetables directly from farmers with the aid of local bodies, Kudumbashree, Horticorp, cooperative institutions and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council. But department officials are apprehensive of procuring fresh vegetables from the southern districts as there has not been much yield due to the rain.
“The initiative is appreciable, but there are practical difficulties to achieve the target. Vegetable production has been less in southern districts. Each block panchayat will have to come up with at least 7-12 varieties of vegetables for the Onam sadya which is not feasible,” said an agriculture department official. Sources told DC that agriculture officers have been advised to procure fresh vegetables on the day and fix the rates before they hit the stands. The agriculture department will have to sell the farm fresh produce at rates lower than that given to the farmers. Horticorp director Ranjan S. Karippai told DC that if there was difficulty in procuring farm fresh vegetables from a particular district, they would try to procure them from districts like Ernakulam and Thrissur which have deficit.
“There will be variation in prices from district to district. We are aware that uniformity of prices cannot be achieved. An apex committee comprising assistant director, farmers’ representatives, Horticorp, VFPC and block panchayat member would finalise the price of the day”, said Mr. Karippai. The government is planning to sell vegetables through 980 Onasamridhi vegetable markets, 180 markets of Horticorp and 190 stalls of the VFPCK till September 13.
