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| Wayanad Social Service Society, Mananthavady, Wayanad |
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For almost 3 decades now, Wayanad Social Service Society under Mananthavady Diocese has been involved in providing a helping hand to marginal farmers and adivasis of the district. Many of the activities aimed at sustainable agriculture, which are gaining acceptance these days, were started and disseminated by the society long ago.
For an ordinary farmer, involved as he is in the daily toil in the farm, going to a University or Agriculture Extension Centre to know about the technological advancements in the sector is rather difficult. It is where the Society steps in with short 2 or 3-day long training programmes for groups of farmers. Continuing since 10 years, this programme becomes the venue where experts from University and Research Centres interact with the farmers of practical knowledge, thus enriching all concerned.
Among other activities encouraged by the Society are watershed-based soil and water conservation efforts, different kinds of compost preparation, biogas generation etc. The Society’s stress on sustainable farming has taken it naturally to organic farming. Social Welfare Societies under the WSSS guides more than 3000 farmers in Wayanad and nearby districts in adopting this mode of farming.
In another initiative, the Society is preparing 100 farmers to acquire international certification for organic farming. This process, which is now almost in the final stage, when completed, will see the certified organic products of Wayanad being sold in the market.
Yet another initiative in collaboration with Spices Board prepares farmers to orient their produce to the foreign market. Assistance in animal husbandry, cultivation of medicinal plants, collating traditional knowledge and treatment, self help groups and their deposit-loan schemes are some of the other prominent activities of the Society.
Courtesy: Fr.Kuriakose Kunnath, Karshakan, November 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
