A group of farmers in Vadakkencherry, near here, is elated by the high yield from their farms after they switched over to organic paddy cultivation last year. The crops are more resistant to pest attack and water usage is less.The jubilant mood among the farmers was evident at the Vadakkencharry padasekharam, comprising a group of 40 farmers, as their second organic paddy harvest festival began on Friday on a 75-acre farm land, which has secured 'C-1,' the first stage certification, of Indocert, the Indian organic certification agency.The initiative promoted jointly by the Vadakkencherry grama panchayat and the State Agriculture Department and backed by technical assistance from the POABS Group which introduced a buy-back scheme ensuring a premium price for the growers, has already spread to over 200 acres covering Palakkad and Alappuzha districts, the granaries of Kerala. The POABS Group expects to bring at least 500 acres under organic paddy cultivation in Kerala in a phased manner, said POABS Group director Joseph Jacob.Promotion of large-scale organic paddy cultivation in Kerala is part of the efforts of the Group, which owns the country's largest multi-crop organic plantation at Nelliampathy in the district, to ensure a buffer zone to support its policy of organic product exports to the world market.The harvest festival was inaugurated by M. Chandran, MLA. Principal Agriculture Officer A.K. Sivanandan; K.E. Usha of Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy; and Mr. Jacob, among others, attended the festival. Vadakkencherry Padasekhara Samithi treasurer R.N. Sankaran presented the report and secretary P.K. Madhavan welcomed the gathering.Mr. Chandran handed over the harvested paddy to Mr. Jacob, as part of the latter's paddy buy-back scheme. The farmers are offered Rs.12.50 a kg, which is 25 per cent above the market price.Vadakkencherry grama panchayat president P. Gangadharan presided over the event.
The Hindu, 6th September 2008
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