Karunagappally to get green tag

KOLLAM: Karunagappally is on a mission to become a complete bio-municipality considering the high number of cancer patients there. It has started Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in over 25 hectares of land under two divisions with the joint effort of the agriculture department and the municipality. The project titled 'Green Karungappally, clean Karungappally' will be implemented in the entire municipality after assessing the outcome of the project. "The scarcity of safe food and increasing lifestyle diseases have gripped Karunagappally along with shortage of pure drinking water. These issues cropped up after its paddy fields were filled. The remaining fields are prone to pollution also. To restore the good old days of agricultural sustainability, the GAP has been envisaged," said Mr V. R. Binesh, agricultural officer.

As a first step, agriculture will be promoted in 25 hectares of land in two divisions making all farmers in the area beneficiaries.  They will be given training sessions. The project will use pea plant species for producing bio-fertilisers imparting nitrogen fixation in the soil with the help of bacteria in the roots of the plant.  The pea will be cultivated and the green leaves of the plant will be ploughed into the soil after harvest. Bio-products, including pseudomonas, fish amino acid, and neem cake will be distributed among  the farmers free of cost.

The local body will issue bio-certification to the products by these farmers under GAP.  A field diary will be maintained to ensure bio-methods of farming and to keep track of the activities. All divisions under the municipality will be brought under GAP in the coming year. The agriculture department will start eco-shops in Karunagappally for the trading of these agricultural products.  These will be given to the customers at premium rates while the farmers will also get good returns for their products, it is expected.