Gnanaprakasam distributes greens among schoolchildren

His ripe age does not deter him from promoting and popularising organic farming techniques among the masses.

For the 76-year-old A. Gnanaprakasam, promoting organic cultivation practices has been a watchword for the past three decades. He has converted his 33 cents of land into a bio-farm, at Kurumbur village near Aranthangi, using bio-manure and applying bio-pesticides.

Greens has been his primary choice, and, he has been cultivating different greens such asvendhyakeerai, sirukeerai, pasali keerai, arakeerai, and musumusukkai.

Catch them young

Mr. Gnanaprakasam, who is consultant to the Pudukottai District Tree and Herbs Growers Welfare Association, says that schoolchildren were his targeted audience. He had been distributing, free of cost, these greens to schoolchildren. “I just harvest the greens daily and keep the bundles at the entrance to the farm,” he says.

The greens were being used for noon meals at the panchayat union middle school at Kurumbur and panchayat union primary school at Kattuthattanvayal village. “About 300 students benefit through the free supply,” he says.

He regrets that lack of awareness among the masses resulted in poor consumption of greens. To tide over the problem, he has been distributing free of cost, greens to those who visit his farm.

Anyone interested in consuming eco-farm greens can visit his fields and take the bundles available. “I harvest some green or other on rotation basis, depending up on the season and growth,” he says.

Call 9442857292 for details.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by M. Balaganessin / Puduikottai – November 13th, 2014