Organic is the trend, but not for officials

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Organic Kerala, which was inaugurated at the Ernakulam Town Hall on Sunday, is attracting huge crowds.

The seventh edition of the organic farming fest, jointly organised by Organic Kerala Charitable Trust, Rajagiri Outreach and Sacred Heart's College, Thevara, exhibits organic varieties of fruits, vegetables and spices.

The fair, inaugurated by union minister Prof. K.V Thomas, has much significance as organic farmers in the state lack a support system from the authorities, according to the organisers.

Despite a growing awareness on the need to switch to organic farming, the agricultural universities, Agricultural Science Department and agricultural development agencies have hardly done anything to implement a declared national policy, they said.

Meanwhile, inaugurating the fair, Prof. K.V Thomas said that a meeting of concerned officials would be convened in the last week of May to discuss possibilities of promoting organic farming in the district.

It will deliberate on ways to utilise the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Maradu for this purpose.

Coconut Development Board, Spices Board, and several other farming agencies have set up stalls in the fair.

The fair focuses on farming of domestic tube crops like yam, fruits including mango and guava as well as vegetables like tamarind, without using chemical fertilisers.

More than 30 indigenous varieties of mangoes and jackfruits are on display at the exhibition.

Organically produced cardamom from Kanthalloor is one of the most sought-after exhibits. Organic farmers from Kanthalloor have brought garlic, raw banana species found in forest and other varieties of vegetables and fruits.

Environmentalist Prof. M.K Prasad presided over the inaugural function. Hibi Eden, MLA, inaugurated the mango festival, while Mayor Tony Chammany opened the tuber crop exhibition. P. Rajeev, MP, inaugurated the exhibition stalls.

As part of the three-day fair, seminars on biodiversity, food safety, public health and waste disposal are also being organised.