The Njattuvela festival organised at Thammanam on Monday drew a large gathering of people as Kochiites continue to respond enthusiastically to campaigns to spread the cultivation of organic vegetables.
The who’s who of the organic campaign in the city were present at the occasion to encourage the local people, who came together despite the threat of heavy rains hanging over the city throughout the day.
A.R.S. Vadhyar, a pioneer in cultivation of vegetables on terraces, called on Kochiites to come out in strength to take up cultivation of vegetables for their own use.
Henry Surro, who was named the best organic farmer in the district recently, recalled how difficult it was for him initially to undertake his farming activities as organic farming is perceived as loss-making.
No to ‘use-and-throw’
Principal of Thevara Sacred Heart College Prasant Payyappilly Palakkappilly, who has been in the forefront of green campaigns in Kochi, said city dwellers must come out against the ‘use-and-throw’ culture, which had resulted in waste heaps springing up everywhere in the city.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University K.R. Vishwambharan said that tests on vegetables sold in the State had brought out alarming results and people needed to venture out to end consumption of poisonous vegetables.
The Njattuvela festival was organised as part of the Jaiva Jeevitham campaign initiated by the district unit of the CPI(M) for spreading organic vegetable cultivation.
P. Rajeev, former member of Rajya Sabha and district secretary of the CPI(M), who inaugurated the planting of vegetables on a small plot of land in Division 45 of the Kochi Corporation said the Jaiva Jeevitham campaign had resulted in substantial acreage coming under organic cultivation in the district.
He said though the present campaign was aimed at the Onam season, the efforts would continue. Each locality should be able to produce about five tonnes of vegetables for the Onam festival market, he said.
