Madurai: 5 people from different fields are creating record in organic farming in Madurai with the aim of providing nanchilla vegetables at affordable price to everyone.
We are currently experiencing the effect of heavy use of chemical fertilizers to increase food production. Soil fertility has been affected and beneficial insects are being destroyed by the use of pesticides.
Humans who eat grains and vegetables from crops grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides are suffering from various diseases. Not only humans but also birds and animals are affected.
With increasing awareness in this regard, now everyone’s attention has turned to organic farming. At the same time, the price of vegetables, fruits and grains grown in organic farming is more than the price of produce grown with chemical fertilizers. As a result, only the well-to-do eat vegetables.
5 people from different fields are engaged in organic farming under the name of ‘Organic Good’ with the aim of providing non-food products to people of all walks of life at a low price. Under the leadership of environmental activist Prashanth, farmer Jafar, tailor Balaji, painter Madan and policeman Alex are doing organic farming on 8 acres in Ulaganeri near Madurai.
Prashant (40), an environmental activist, said: We have planted and grown 30,000 saplings in Madurai district in 11 years on behalf of an organization called ‘Maram Madurai’. Organically grown vegetables are sold at high prices, making them unaffordable for the common man.
5 of us have established an organization in the name of ‘Organic Good’ with the idea that everyone should buy and eat healthy vegetables. We grow 17 types of vegetables including Kathari, Tomato, Mung, Onion, Kothavari, Chedi Banu, Karamani, Watermelon, Panthal crops like Putalai, Surai, Birkai.
We only send the produce to the government farmers market to sell it at a fair price. We give priority to the searchers and lower the price. Next we plan to grow 30 more varieties of vegetables. We have Pulikulam cow because domestic cows are necessary for organic farming.
Through this we prepare natural fertilizers including panchakavya and use them for crops. To control pests we control sunflowers and yellow flowering legumes in the fields. Hundreds of birds come to catch insects.
In support of our idea, Bodhis textile company has given us 8 acres of land and helped us. The women of Ulanganeri and Ammapatti villages are helping in weeding and maintenance work. Peacocks and birds come in search of prey due to the natural environment in our garden. This is what he said.
