Kerala - Kozhikode   

Efforts on to increase vegetable production

Kozhikode: The Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) has intensified efforts to boost domestic and commercial production of vegetables in Kozhikode district in view of the rise in prices of vegetables.

Officials said here that the success of the schemes depend on public participation. The ‘My vegetable garden’ scheme to be launched this month aims at reaching households through schoolchildren. As many as 50 schools are being identified based on student strength. The VFPCK is stocking 50,000 vegetable kits costing Rs.10 each and containing seven vegetable types including okra, beans, spinach, bitter gourd and snake gourd.

VFPCK district manager A. Sulfikar said students would be given training on vegetable cultivation. Brochure will also be given to them, he said. “In 2006 we had launched the ‘agri@school.’ It failed due to a lack of patronage on part of teachers,” Mr. Sulfikar said. “Mass action is possible only through schools and if at least some students plant these seeds at home, the scheme will succeed,” he added.

Another project of the VFPCK, meant specifically for city-dwellers, is ‘haritha nagari.’ As many as 350 households will be given 30 pots with vegetables of their choice along with manure and implements — all at a cost of Rs.3,750. Mr. Sulfikar said he had been receiving calls from individuals and residents’ associations seeking to enlist in the scheme. It had been working smoothly in Kochi for the last three years, he said.

The council is also attempting large-scale production of vegetables through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and VFPCK’s Swaashraya Karshaka Samitis (SKS).

The RKVY envisages setting up of 15 ‘vegetable villages’ where cultivation will be undertaken on 5 hectares each. Farmers will be given subsidies to the tune of Rs.5,000 each per hectare of cropped area. The scheme will get to a start next week at Kunnamangalam, Mavoor, Adivaram, Perambra, Kakoor, Chelannoor and Koorachundu.

The ten Swaashraya Karshaka Samitis functioning in the district have been given 15 tons of various vegetable seeds besides training, fertilizer and equipment.

The marketing of their produce will be done by VFPCK. “If the SKS farmers do their task well, the output will exceed 60,000 tons. In turn, our farmers can then meet 40 per cent of the vegetable demand of the district; up from the 20 per cent of local demand which they currently satisfy,” he said.

VFPCK officials expect the prices to remain high through the Sabarimala season. This is the best time to motivate people and organisations to take up vegetable farming. For technical help call: 9447982255.

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