THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kalliyoor grama panchayat has launched an organic farming initiative to ensure that the coming Onam season can be celebrated with organically-produced, pesticide-free vegetables and fruits.
The Kalliyoor grama panchayat biodiversity conservation committee and Santhigram are jointly organising the initiative which is being funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Film actor Anoop Chandran inaugurated the initiative by handing over curry tree saplings to farmers Mini and B Retnakaran.
Anoop Chandran said that small-scale farming and breeding of cows should be promoted in every household. ‘’The present culture of selling everything to make money and then spending money to buy poison to eat should change. Agriculture should become a way of life,’’ he said. ‘’Take our children to see farmlands instead of films,’’ he said.
Kalliyoor grama panchayat president S Udayakumar presided over the function. District Panchayat vice-president Rufus Daniel delivered the keynote address.
NABARD assistant general manager H Manoj, Lead bank officer Renjith and Santhigram director L Pankajakshan spoke.