Terrace farming catching up

The response for rooftop gardening is excellent and the demand is outmatching capacity

A silent revolution is taking place on rooftops across Kerala. Hundreds of families in the state have converted terraced roof of their houses into micro farms, where they grow organic vegetables, free from killer chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Unlike in other states, where the terrace-farming is an urban fad, in Kerala the practice is fast becoming a part of people’s life in urban and rural areas alike, as the circumstances demand it. Rooftops of houses in semi-wild areas like Idukki and Wayanad, and major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode are dotted with fruit-laden plants.
High incidence of cancer and other dreaded diseases in the state has sown seeds of the thought for a safe food practice. The cancer registry at the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, shows that in Kerala diet is responsible for 20 per cent of cancer cases, and it is estimated that 35,000 new cases are reported every year in the state with a population of a little over 35 million.

Against this backdrop, the state health authorities, in association with non-governmental organizations and residents’ associations, conduct regular progra­mme to promote healthy diet practices. Kerala depends almost fully on neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and eggs. These vegetables and fruit are marinated in deadly synthetic pesticides, while meat, milk and eggs are awash with veterinary drugs and hormones.

“Kerala consumers prefer vegetables and fruit with no fly-bite marks. So farmers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka spray pesticides at close intervals in higher concentration for vegetables and fruit meant for Kerala market,” said Muthuswamy, an agent for Theni (Tamil Nadu) farmers in Kochi vegetable and fruit wholesale market.

Recently, buckling under the pressure from consumers and various fora, the State Directorate of Health Service (DHS) collected samples of vegetables and fruit from stalls from all parts of the state and tested them at Government Analysis Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram for pesticide residues. Results were alarming. All the 85 samples tested contained high levels of pesticide residue belonging to organochloro, organophosphate and carbofuran groups.

To insulate themselves from this daily dose of poison, a recipe for disaster, people have started looking for a viable option for growing pesticide-free vegetables on their residential premises and, thus, landed in terrace farming. “Initially it was an isolated effort by individuals and small groups. It reaped a rich harvest and thus the idea sprouted in several minds. Now it is a trend,” said Gopakumar, a retired PWD superintending engineer, who has been into terrace farming for over 10 years.

With more and more people jumping on the bandwagon, they have to scramble for quality seeds, inputs and tips on organic farming. At many places, residents’ associations initially came forward to help them and they mainly took care of the educational part.
Enthused by people’s participation, several local bodies have got into it. They now supply seeds and manure free of charge. Now it is a prestigious programme of the government. The State Horticulture Mission and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council of Kerala (VFPCK), two state agencies, assist people in setting up rooftop vegetable farms. The VFPCK staff drop in at the house and set up the garden.

Though it costs Rs 2,000 for a unit consisting of 25 saplings of five vegetables--tomato, brinjal, ladies finger, bitter gourd and snake gourd-- planted in grow bags, it charges only Rs 500 and the rest is subsidy. “This service is now available only in Kochi city, but if the customers living outside the city can bear the transportation costs, we will render our service,” said VFPCK senior official Kavitha S Nair. The VFPCK brought 12,500 households in Kochi city under rooftop farming scheme called “Green City” in June with the help of Ernakulam District Agri Horticulture Society and the Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) and Residents’ Apex Council of Ernakulam (RACE).

“The response is immense. Every day we are getting several calls requesting for saplings and farming tips. The demand is so high that it outmatches our capacity,” said Kavitha. The VFPCK also supplies saplings of vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage in Kochi and are the star attractions for the farmers, she said. Recently, the scheme was extended to all the 14 districts in the state, including 12 municipalities in Ernakulam district.

The VFPCK now makes vermi-compost and supplies it to customers in Kochi. “We have only very limited capacity to manufacture manure, but this type of care and attention will boost to farmers’ morale,” extension officer Indu K Paul said. Last year, the State Horticulture Mission successfully launched the scheme in 15,000 households in Thiruvananthapuram with the assistance of the city corporation. Several NGOs are also active in terrace farming at many places in the State. The City Farmer Kochi is one such organisation. It not only supplies saplings and inputs, but also clears all doubts and gives directions to farmer over phone and through e-mail.
 
The Kerala Agricultural Development Society (KADS) at Thodupuzha buys the excess produce from its farmers at premium price. “We have given them assurance that if their produce becomes excess, the society will buy them at a premium price. So far, we could maintain our commitment. We don’t think it will create any problem for us as there is a big demand for organic vegetables and fruits,” said KADS secretary Jose.

“Our aim is to produce 1,000 tonnes of vegetables from terrace farming annually by 2015,’’ said a top official in the Agriculture Department. If the scheme can maintain its present pace, it is not a wishful thinking.