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| Farmers' Club, Ponnittassery, Alappuzha |
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That the farmers of Ponnittassery have contributed voluntary labour worth Rs.1 lakh to make the 2-storied Agricultural Information Centre in the village a reality is just one more feather in the cap of this remote village, which had earlier shown Kerala how to save diseased coconuts.
While the scientifically inclined had prescribed rooting out the trees to rout out the disease, the wisdom of traditional farmers prompted the village to try and save the trees.
A 10-member Ponnittassery Farmers’ Club swung into action and started medication and nursing for the affected trees. At the end of the effort even the trees marked as beyond redemption were like born-again trees.
The Club did not stop its activities there. They employed a novel method to make their activities sustainable without stretching the hand to the Government or the public. Every household marked a coconut tree as meant for the Club. The coconuts from such trees fetched the capital for the activities of the Club.
The Club was able to supplement the application of chemical fertilizers to the coconuts with organic manure obtained by ingenious barter system. Later, when cooperative vegetable cultivation became vogue, Haritha Group was born here also. In the sandy and loose soil where water would disappear even as it is poured, the Group was able to harvest truckloads of vegetables. The problem then faced by them was how to market it. They had a solution for that also.
Along the National Highway, they put up stalls to sell fresh vegetables without middlemen. Thus by united and spirited action, the farmers of this remote village from Alappuzha are reaping benefits of their efforts.
The Agricultural Information Centre
Courtesy: Staff Reporter, Karshakashree, December 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
