KOZHIKODE: Saying a big ‘no’ to the vegetables with dreadful doses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides exclusively produced for the Kerala market, this Vishu season the city folks have a chance to stick to organic products.
The first step towards it was the decision of the merchants in Palayam market to give ample space for selling organic vegetables produced by the local farmers and small groups including residents’ associations.
“It will be indeed a great step if people stop using such poisonous vegetables from our neighbouring states,” Gangadharan P. of Balussery Town Residents Association said. It has decided to start an outlet in Balussery for vegetables from their farms.
“Since last three months, we have been intensively working on developing a good farm in our region that could help us sell vegetables for this festival season so that our people can eat poison-free food,” he said.
"It is particularly the vegetable varieties including banana, bitter gourd, cauliflower and cabbage that are reported having more pesticides and chemical fertilisers in them. Hence, we cultivate more such varieties in our farms."
Rarichikutty, a wholesale vendor at Palayam, said sales of vegetable during festival season has in last two years seen a considerable decrease. "This year we decided to promote small-scale vegetable producers.”
