Kozhikode corporation to launch organic farming of seasonal crops

KOZHIKODE: Self-sufficiency is the need of the hour and that is one lesson this pandemic has taught the world. Kozhikode corporation authorities are all set to take advantage of the lockdown by initiating large scale organic farming programme ‘Samrudhi 2020’ with the help of societies, residential associations, individuals, forums, farmers clubs and ‘Padashekara committees’ (local committees of paddy farmers).
Considered to be first of its kind initiative by a local selfgovernment body in North Kerala, the corporation plans to bring all the unused fertile barren fields under cultivation with the guidance of officials of the Krishi Bhavan.The civic body will launch the WhatsApp forum exclusively for the effective implementation of Samrudhi 2020.
The decision to take up large scale farming to increase the production of seasonal fruits, vegetables and food grains was taken in the wake of Covid-19 which poses a threat of a shortage of agriculture supplies in the long run. The move gained momentum as chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently thrust the need for large scale farming to reduce the state’s dependency on other states for food grains, fruits, vegetables, and other essential commodities.
The civic body decided to carry out all types of cultivations such as rooftop vegetable gardening, farming on unused lands of government and private institutions, and other vacant lands. It plans to do paddy cultivation on around 10 hectares of barren land, vegetable cultivation on a minimum of two hectares of land, and tapioca on three hectares. It also decided to encourage individuals, residential groups, clubs, societies by providing incentives in the form of subsidies. Ward level committees will be formed within a week in all the 75 wards to supervise and to monitor farming. A corporation level committee headed by Mayor Thottathil Raveendran has been formed for the supervision of the project. According to corporation officials, a sum of Rs 50 lakh has been set aside for the implementation of projects in the agriculture sector.
Corporation development standing committee chairman P C Rajan who is also the vice-chairman of the corporation level committee of Samrudhi 2020 said that people who are initiating farming and agricultural activities will get subsidies to support the movement. “Farming will be initiated converging it with various government schemes to provide subsidies. We aim to attain self-sufficiency during the Onam season. The required seeds, seedlings, grow bags, manure will be supplied with the help of Krishi Bhavan and two echo shops of the corporation. The civic body is also planning to provide manure produced at Njeliyanparamba trenching ground at a subsidized rate of Rs 2 per kg,” he said. “A decision on subsidies and programmes jointly implemented by the corporation and agriculture department will be prepared on April
29. Already more than 50 groups and local committees have come forward to take up farming,” he said.