KOZHIKODE: This Onam season is something special for a group of paddy farmers from Wayanad. Their collective efforts to resurrect paddy culture of Wayanad yielded results as the pesticide-free rice variety 'Kabani' hit the market on Thursday.
Film director and actor Joy Mathew inaugurated the official launch of Kabani rice by Wayanad Agriculture and Spices Producer Company, the farmers group, at Karthika auditorium in Alakapuri. M P Ahammad, Managing Director of Malabar Gold, received the first sack of rice in the function.
In his inaugural address, Joy Mathew said, “There is a noteworthy increase in the number of farmers who shifted from Chemical to natural farming. This change can be taken as something positive that could bring a healthy food culture among Keralites.” The Kabani rice would be available through Elements organic stores in Kozhikode.
Introducing the rice variety to the audience, Jose Sebastian, Director of Wayanad Agriculture and Spices Producer Company, said, “Promoting the rice would be a great thing that the Keralites could do for Wayanad district which is now struggling to get back their lost sheen in agriculture. Wayanadan Thondi,Gandhakasala and Chomala are some of the indigenous variety produced by the farmers. According to the farmers behind the initiative, this is the apt method to save Wayanad from drought also. At present, cultivation is on at 250 acres of fields in Wayanad. P A Devasya, chairman of the company, said the farmers have already taken steps to turn fallow lands cultivable.