SMPB NEWS
100 Acres of Kurundotti : Herbal Village Project
Monday, January 6, 2025
In Kalyasseri Mandal, Kurunthotti cultivation was harvested as part of the second phase of the Aushadha gram project. M. Vijin MLA performed the constituency-level inauguration of the harvest at Ezhom Parammal. Ezhom Panchayat President P. Govindan presided over the inauguration. Kallyassery Agriculture Asst. Director K. Satheesh Kumar was also present.
The project, which was started on 25 acres of land in three panchayats - Kadannappally-Panapuzha, Ezhom and Kannapuram - in May 2023, is entering its second phase; farmers are happy to have received excellent yields on 100 acres. The second phase of the project was started in the Thavaratham valley of Madayippara last July. Medicinal cultivation has been expanded to 100 acres in the constituency.
Cultivation was started on 20 acres in Kadannappally-Panapuzha panchayat, 15 acres in Ezhom and Cheruthazham, 10 acres in Pattuvam, Kallyassery, Kannapuram and Kunhimangalam panchayats and five acres in Madayi and Cherukunnu panchayats. The state government has sanctioned Rs 32.50 lakh for this. Along with this, Kurunthotti cultivation has also started in the Eramam-Kuttur panchayat.
In the first phase, 34 farmers and in the second phase, 97 farmers were involved in the cultivation of Kurunthotti. Panchayat-level farmer groups were formed. Training was provided in harvesting and seed collection. The services of job-guaranteed workers were also used for land preparation. The harvested Kurunthotti and seeds are collected by the public sector undertaking Aushadhi through the Mattathur Labor Contract Society in Thrissur.
M. Vijin MLA said that this ensures a good income for the farmers. Many people have also got employment opportunities. The MLA also informed us that work has been started to form a society to ensure marketing assistance to farmers. Last year, the Kallyassery constituency won the state government award for the best organic farming constituency in Kerala through the Aushadha Gramam project.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the State Agriculture Department, the Aushadhi and Medicinal Plant Board, the Local Self-Government Department, and the Mattathur Labor Contract Society. Ezhom Panchayat Vice President K.N. Geetha, Panchayat member K. Rajeesh, Agriculture Officer-in-Charge P.T. Bushara, K. Manoharan, and E.T. Venugopal spoke at Parammal. P.P. Ratheesh, Rajesh K., P.P. Rajesh, and Sandeep M.V. cultivated at Parammal.