ALAPPUZHA: The CPM will begin a new initiative to gain a reasonable price for the organic vegetables produced by the farmers in the state. The Organic Farmers Cooperative Society, a cooperative to coordinate farming and marketing, will be inaugurated in Alappuzha on Sunday. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate the first organic farmers’ cooperative in the state.
Cooperative society president G Harishankar said, “Organic products of farmers from the district will be procured and sold through the cooperatives.”
“The organic farming is actively carried out in Onattukara, Karappuram, Kuttanad and in the upper Kuttanad regions of the district,” he said. “Due to the absence of proper market intervention, the farmers currently do not get a reasonable price. The society will procure vegetables and other produces from farmers and will be sold through their outlets. The society will open outlets across the district soon.”
“A farmers’ group will be formed in each panchayat ward for following the organic farming method,” said secretary M Santhoshkumar. “Farmers’ Clubs will be constituted in each ward for coordinating the activities. The club will collect the produce and will be handed over to the society. A vegetable market with facilities for freezing to protect vegetables was set up near the private bus stand in Alappuzha town.