KOCHI: The model set by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) by cultivating vegetables within the office premises should be followed by other agencies and local bodies too, said noted critic M Leelavathy here on Tuesday. She was speaking after inaugurating the winter harvest of vegetables on GCDA premises.
The panchayats should formulate projects to take on lease the vacant land within their limits and should use the land for cultivating vegetables. Through these efforts, the local bodies can not only provide employment to jobless people but also can ensure availability of organic and pesticide- free vegetables to the people,” she said.
As part of the winter harvest, vegetables, including cabbage and cauliflower were harvested from GCDA premises.
“The major motto of today’s generation should be inventing greenery from our land which is getting affected by the increasing number of concrete buildings. The effort like the one put forth by the GCDA will help in spreading the message of the necessity of working hard on the land. If every government as well as private agencies in the area come up with similar efforts, it will help the employees in refreshing their minds and easing out the work pressure by caring the nature. The vegetables can be sold at reasonable rates so that the expenses incurred for taking the land on lease can be met. This will also ensure that we will not have to depend upon other states for the vegetables to meet our requirements, especially during festive seasons like Onam when the demand for vegetables is high,” Leelavathy added.
Meanwhile noted writer K L Mohana Varma who was present on the occasion said that the idea implemented by the GCDA will help in giving priority to healthy food habits to the public. “The idea should be developed into a big programme at larger scales,” he added.
MLAs Benny Behnan and Hibi Eden, Kochi Corporation Opposition leader K J Jacob, GCDA chairman N Venugopal, GCDA executive committee member Akber Badusha and others were also present.
This is the fourth time that the GCDA has successfully cultivated vegetables on its premises. Last year, for the Onam season, the GCDA staff and officials had cultivated paddy on the premises. Earlier, during the Vishu season, the agency had harvested cucumber. GCDA chairman N Venugopal said that, for the next season, the GCDA is planning to cultivate papaya. More than 50 papaya saplings were already planted. Rajeevan, Sindhu and Saleela, the staff of the GCDA who were behind these efforts, were also honoured at the function.