KOCHI: Kottuvally is all set to declare itself as a fully fertile and barren land-free grama panchayat as they have managed to bring large acres of land under cultivation. According to panchayat officials, they have managed to involve most people in different types of cultivation in unused lands in collaboration with Krishibhavan.
The local body has large pokkali fields with coastal area and marshy land.
“Pokkali was cultivated on 35 hectares last year and this year, around 49 hectares have been brought under cultivation and crops have been harvested. When there is no paddy cultivation, people engage in vegetable cultivation, organic farming and carbon-neutral cultivation. Focus has also been given on tuber and underground vegetable products,” said panchayat president K S Shaji.
Even school students have been engaged in farming in their institutions.
“To ensure that the produce is marketed properly, Kudumbashree Mission has been roped in. We also have direct sales and buyers come from different places,” he added.
He said that while they hadn’t taken an exact data of how much land was barren, over the last one year, they have ensured that more people are engaged in agriculture as the panchayat is largely a fertile land for cultivation. To ensure that waste management is also handled, Haritha Karma Sena has been formed in all the wards to ensure proper segregation. A material collection facility (MCF) has been set up in the panchayat for waste collection. Steps have also been taken to set up mini MCFs in all wards, he added.
