A burst of colors greets commuters on the dusty, busy, and congested Vattiyoorkavu junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Yellow, orange, and white marigolds and scarlet blossoms of Bachelor’s button dance within the breeze, giving a splash of color to the bushes and creepers laden with greens. Onam arrived early on this nook of the capital metropolis due to an initiative of VK Prasanth, Member of Legislative Meeting, and Thushara Chandran, Agricultural Officer at Krishi Bhavan, Vattiyoorkavu.
Prasanth had mentioned the opportunity of Krishi Bhavan developing with a plan to develop pesticide-free flowers and greens that could possibly be used for Onam. Since vacant land is at a premium, Thushara determined to concentrate on terrace farming and encourage residents to dedicate not less than 10 flower pots to develop one sort of vegetable. She contacted resident associations to hunt the assistance of those that is likely to be taken with vegetable cultivation.
A farmer harvesting greens cultivated on a Authorities-owned plot at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram.
| Picture Credit score:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
To encourage residents to develop greens, Thushara got here up with a plan to contain not less than 10 residents from every of the 9 wards below the Krishi Bhavan. “As a substitute of 1 household rising completely different sorts of greens, we requested them to develop one selection in not less than 10 flowerpots. In that means, we may domesticate a variety of greens for Onam. Residents may interact in terrace farming, of their gardens or, if they’d area, of their yards,” explains Thushara.
Many residents enthusiastically joined the programme. That’s when Prasanth urged that they might use a vacant plot of about two acres proper on the junction that had been acquired for the event of the Vattiyoorkavu Junction Growth Undertaking.
The plot has been earmarked for rehabilitation of merchants, an area for residents and so forth. “For the reason that course of remains to be underway, the MLA didn’t need the land to stay vacant. After securing permission from Thiruvananthapuram Growth Authority, the plot was used for cultivating flowers and greens below a venture referred to as ‘Our Onam, our greens and flowers’,” says a workers member within the MLA’s workplace.
A vegetable stall arrange for an Onam sale at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram.
| Picture Credit score:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
As a substitute of solely flowers, it was determined to domesticate each flowers and greens on one acre.
With the assistance of a farming group of 12 residents, the scheme took root on June 29. The purpose was to develop flowers and greens that could possibly be harvested for Onam.
“Due to the keenness of the residents, now we have greater than 15 sorts of greens and flowers which are able to be harvested. Greater than the cultivation itself, we had been in a position to show how vacant plots could possibly be used productively. That has caught the eye of many passers-by who want to do the identical of their neighbourhood,” provides Thushara.
S Vijayan, one of many members of the farm group, a every day wages labourer, says he has been a part of such farm teams for a few years. Final yr, he had cultivated greens on a patch of land close to his residence at Malamukal. “When the MLA got here up with this plan, we had been glad to hitch within the effort. The 12 of us, together with ladies, have been nurturing the flower and vegetable backyard. We grew snakegourd, cucumber, ladyfinger, brinjal, beans, tomato and so forth.,” says Vijayan. College students from faculties within the neighborhood have additionally been visiting this plot to see the cultivated patch of land. “Many city-bred college students would solely have seen these greens in retailers. They actually loved seeing the assorted crops and greens,” says Thushara.
Enthused by the fruits of their labour, the farm group has expressed their willingness to information resident associations on tips on how to go about rising their very own greens and flowers.
A farmer, a part of a farming group in Vattiyoorkavu, checking the flowers earlier than harvesting them for Onam gross sales.
| Picture Credit score:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Prasanth inaugurated the harvesting on September 8. He has provided to offer the group area to market the produce at a Onam fete he organises yearly. Prasanth hopes that the profitable implementation of the ‘our Onam, our flowers and greens, will enthuse different residents to comply with their instance to develop their very own greens.
Because the Agriculture Division gala’s for Onam opened on Wednesday, the farm group plans to start harvesting for the markets. The earnings earned go to the farm group who’ve been engaged on the plot.
Printed – September 12, 2024 02:14 pm IST
