KOCHI: Onam is a nostalgic occasion for every Malayali. Every Onam reminds one of an age which celebrated equality where there was little or no distinction between the haves and the have-nots. The festival is inherently agricultural in nature. Onam days are made special not by the wealth of dishes in the Onam sadya, but through the preparations that go into its making. Onam, for us, is a beautiful experience combining the Onapookkalam, Onakkodi, games and songs and the Onasadya. As an agricultural festival, Onam holds prime position in the culture-scape of the state.
Perhaps, it is also the occasion when consumption of vegetable-based dishes peaks in Kerala. With the aim of keeping this year’s Onasadya free of pesticide-ridden vegetables, the Agriculture Department is launching a project to encourage the public to use homegrown vegetables for preparing the feast. The project, ‘Onathinu Orumuram Pachakari’ will be launched in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
The aim is to rope in 63 lakh families in the state in this endeavour. The project will be linked to the Haritha Keralam Mission and will involve local bodies, Kudumbashree units, housewives, students, MGNREGA labourers, vegetable clusters, PSUs, youth, voluntary organisations, residents’ associations and various government departments.
The department intends to supply 63 lakh packets of seeds, 45 lakh vegetable saplings and over one lakh grow bags. As an encouragement, housewives and groups making outstanding contributions towards the project stand to win Rs 1 lakh as the first prize at the state level and Rs 15,000 at the district level. The second and third prizes at the state level are Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000. At the district level, this will be Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.
‘Onathinu Orumuram Pachchakari’ is aimed at reviving the state’s lost tradition of growing its own vegetables, necessary to avoid pesticide-ridden vegetables. The Agriculture Department aims to make this project a permanent one, rather than confine it to the Onam season. Once we make it a habit of consuming toxin-free vegetables and fruits, deadly diseases will disappear. Good health and a good society should emerge via good food. Even as we ensure our children have safe vegetables with their meals, it is also important to convey this message to future generations.
The Agriculture Department intends to supply 63 lakh packets of seeds, 45 lakh vegetable saplings and over one lakh grow bags.