The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), in association with Seed Care, an organisation of traditional farmers in the district, will organise ‘Pathilachanda,’ a leafy vegetable fair here from July 18 to July 25.
Consuming at least 10 leafy vegetables in the Malayalam month of ‘Karkidaka’ was a practice of the people in the State, but such healthy practices were gradually vanishing, T.R. Suma, social scientist, MSSRF, said.
The seven-day programme aims at reviving the habit of conserving and consuming traditional vegetables so as to lead a healthy life, Ms. Suma said.
A recent research conducted by the MSSRF on the changing food habits revealed that the traditional food baskets of tribal and non-tribal communities are shrinking and modern-day vegetables are replacing them rapidly.
Locally available leaves and vegetables used to be part of the tribal food basket in the past. But biodiversity depletion, ecosystem degradation and limited access to land resulted in shrinking food baskets. The negative attitude of society towards these foods did not help either, she added.
The programme is being organised as part of the ‘Good Food Campaign’ initiated by the MSSRF since last year. The campaign aimed at popularising the consumption of diverse and seasonal native food items, Ms. Suma added.
Ten vegetables
Ten leafy vegetables include Thaalu, Thakara, Melon, Kumbalam, Payar, Ponnankanni, Thazuthama, Kodithuva, Kadumudunga, and Chena collected from various parts of the district would be exhibited and traded at the fair.