The 9th Green Fest organised by the Kerala Agriculture Development Society (KADS) aimed at creating a venue for the exchange of traditional seeds and providing expert opinion on cultivation is attracting farmers.
An important feature of the festival, which began on April 5 at Thodupuzha, is that high quality seeds and saplings of vegetables, fruits and other crops are made available to the farmers. It is also an occasion for the farmers to share with others their own seeds.
Traditional varieties of mango collected from Muthalamada in Palakkad, jack fruits and its value-added products, coconut saplings, pepper vines, saplings of fruit trees and modern agriculture tools, in addition to the traditional tools, are exhibited there.
KADS has been working for the past 18 years to protect traditional seeds and promote traditional farming. Under it, about 300 farmers are following organic cultivation in Mankaulam grama panchayat after securing the C- 3 (conversion) certificate.
Antony Kandirickal, KADS president, said the seed festival had been in existence for the past 18 years. However, it had become a well-knit venue for the supply of high quality seeds for the past nine years. Earlier, the seed festival was organised in November but now it was shifted to April-May so as to benefit farmers better, he said. Some farmers exhibited traditional seeds and saplings, which were facing extinction, he said.
The festival is now organised in accordance with the natural clock for cultivation. The seeds should be sown in Pathamuthayam (Medam 10) so that the soil would be ripe and the seed would have a healthy plant growth, he said.
“A healthy plant has resistance against pest and fungus attack. It does not require pesticide application,'' he said. The aim was to bring back the traditional seeds and a healthy agriculture practice, he said.
‘Inchipayar,’ a beans variety traditionally cultivated with ginger crops, needed good rain for maximum yield. For a farmer, the seasonal calendar should be followed, Mr. Kandirickal added.
A large number of people visited the festival, said K.J. Kurien, who manages the venue. It was a positive sign that women were keen on cultivating vegetables and fruits for their household needs, he said.
The festival concludes on May 5.