KOZHIKODE: AGRICO, the cooperative venture of farmers, has accomplished a mission by promoting vegetable farming using bio farming methods in a big way in the Malabar region.
Established on August 15, 2013 at Vengeri, AGRICO started functioning on January 2, 2014. AGRICO is pioneering in selling organic fruits and vegetables, organic fertilizers, manure and other organic products at a lower cost in comparison with what is sold in the open markets.
‘‘We are supplying a package of 35 grow bags costing Rs 4,000 at a subsidized rate of Rs 2,000. So far, we have done terrace farming for 50 houses and have also ensured timely maintenance of farm units”, said Sajith Kumar K, AGRICO Director.
“AGRICO owns a 5000 sq ft. high-tech polyhouse in which pea cultivation is going on at present. AGRICO also has an organic supermarket through which the pea and other products cultivated in the polyhouse are sold at a cheaper rate to customers,’’ he said.
AGRICO in co-ordination with Kudumbasree is engaged in supplying three-tier poultry houses to seven districts of Malabar at a subsidized rate.
AGRICO is also busy in ensuring supply of seeds and saplings to local farmers at a lower cost which in turn is collected from various government farms.
Portable biogas plants are also a hot selling equipment in the hands of AGRICO.
‘‘We are selling biogas plants costing Rs 22,000 at a subsidized rate of Rs 8,000. With the usage of biogas plant, a minimum of Rs 750 can be saved in a month and the gas can be used for at least 2 hours in a day. Overall Rs 2,000 can be saved in the house budget in a month. So far, we have provided biogas plants to around 100 homes,’’ added Sajith Kumar.
For all its efforts, AGRICO has also bagged the ‘best agriculture project’ award of the state government.
