Farmers in Wayanad Elated as ‘Kabani’ Rice Hits Market

Published: 29th August 2014 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th August 2014 04:44 AM   |  A+A-

Joy-Mathew

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.


India Matters

Comments

Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines.

The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time.

flipboard facebook twitter whatsapp