The common allegation against social media that it is a mere time-waste can fall flat once you stumble on this highly-productive group in Facebook.
The group ‘Adukkala Thottam’ formed by T T Mohamedkutty, retired government employee, gives you tips and seeds to form a kitchen garden. Formed just six months ago, the group has now 25,000 members among which 25 per cent are full-time farmers and 30 per cent women. The main aim of the group is to create a desire for farming among its members.
The group also has a ‘Vithu Bank’ (seed bank) managed by Mohamed Kutty himself. He collects seeds from the members by post and distribute them to other members who needs them. “I give constant updates. The members who want seeds from the bank has to send a cover with postal address and stamp to my address. The seeds will be supplied based on availability,” said Mohammed Kutty.
According to him, virtual world is the best platform for discussing farming activities as all sections, even farmers, are active in the cyber world today.
Besides Mohamedkutty, the group has four more administrators- Narayanan Kutty Mapala from Tirur, Sathi Nair from US, Ambara Pavithran from Doha, and Kiran Krishna from Punalur.
Seed Bank
Every details regarding the seed bank is available on the page along with the stock list. As of now, there are 83 items in the bank. The members are encouraged to update the page with photographs of the saplings in different stages and send back the seeds once they harvest it. Taking into consideration the inconvenience in sending the seeds to UAE, a member of the group Abdul Salman Adithiruthy begun a seed bank in dubai.
This unbridled enthusiasm generated by the page has made Mohamedkutty a better farmer. Now, he is testing a seed variety sent to him from Poland by a member of the group on his terrace. “Non-residents Keralites are very active in the group and they try cultivating everything. Last month, a few of the group members had conducted a get-together in Dubai to share their experiences,” he said. The diseases affecting every plant variety are also a hot topic here. “When I get to know a problem affecting a particular plant, I post the pictures and details and soon I am flooded by tips and solutions from the members ranging from farmers to agriculture officers,” sayd Dr Maria Lisa, retired veterinary doctor from Kottayam, a member of the group. Every news and images realted to farming finds a space here.
Deepan, manager, Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council of Keralam, Idukki, says the group has helped many set up kitchen farms in their homes while Francis Xavier, professor (farm), College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, says the group has helped popularise many indigenous seeds that were so rare. He adds that the page also helped to organise low-rung farmers.
The group also promotes organic farming. “We are planning a family meeting of the members on April 6 at Atholi in Kozhikode,” says, Kiran Krishna, one of the administrators.