School students seen at the Kangayam tract in Tirupur district. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
For the group of 37 school students from Coimbatore, the two-day stay at Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation (SKCRF) and Kangayam cattle tract offered a different experience. Not only did they get an opportunity to know about the cattle but they also went back richer with the knowledge of making some unique value-added products from the cow’s urine and dung.
Kathiyawadi horse
They also got a glimpse of the Kathiyawadi horse, a rare breed of horse from the North-Western belt of the country, reared at the facility. “We are facilitating and encouraging these type of visits by youngsters only to ensure that the future of the animal-species that face extinction like Kangayam cattle will be safe in the hands of the next generation,” K.S.M. Karthikeya, managing trustee of SKCRF, told The Hindu.
Jeeva Amirtham
Apart from teaching the students the origin and benefits of Kangayam cattle to the farming community, the resource persons from SKCRF explained the techniques to make Jeeva Amritham, a product that can be made from urine of Kangayam cattle and used as a substitute for nitrogenous fertilizers. Another product that was usually made from Kangayam cattle’s urine and dung is Bij Amritham, used for seed treatment due to its anti-fungal properties.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by R Vimal Kumar / Tirupur – August 06th, 2013
Chloe Tingle and Adam Smith, students at the University of Bristol, have travelled to the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu to look at ways in which the residents of a Mumbai slum and two remote villages can improve their lives by generating their own power.
India has a population of 350 million people, but a quarter of the country still has no electricity. Vast areas of Tamil Nadu suffer from intermittent electricity or no energy supply at all, making even the most basic daily tasks extremely difficult.
Students are visiting India as part of a project led by Bristol-based charity The Converging World
Chloe and Adam arrived in Mumbai on Saturday 27 July to undertake a fact finding mission as part of a project led by Bristol-based charity The Converging World (TCW), which has installed wind farms in the area, investing the profits into helping people who live in energy poverty.
The pair will run workshops in the Mumbai slum, where a solar project is underway at a local community centre, educating local people about the importance of renewable energies. They will then travel to the villages of Kalilaspura and Muthumakamura, which are close to wind turbines built by TCW, where they will assess the energy needs and lifestyles of the local people and will also meet local suppliers of biomass and biogas generators.
Both students are part of the Bristol branch of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a student-run organisation working to remove barriers to development through engineering.
Chloe, who is in the final year of a Master’s degree in Engineering Design, is a volunteer project manager for TCW’s Access to Affordable Sustainable Energy programme. She says: “Our trip is a fact-finding mission to gain an appreciation of local lifestyles. Meeting with communities face to face is the best way to understand their needs and learn about how their quality of life could be improved.”
Adam, who has just completed a Masters in Physics, adds: “At The Converging World we are focussed on sustainability, so it’s important that we don’t go straight in and install energy systems that no-one understands how to use or maintain, that will be forgotten after a couple of years.”
When the pair return to the UK at the end of August they will continue to work on the project, using their research to compile recommendations regarding the best type of technology to use and which suppliers in India could help.
Chloe and Adam’s part time internships at TCW are sponsored by the University of Bristol and their trip to India has been self-funded through grants and fundraising events.
Online facility will provide details of weather on State roads connecting 13 important destinations, and some Puducherry highways
The next time you plan a long trip that will take you through the State’s highways, you can ensure there are no disruptions to your travel due to bad weather.
The meteorological department has recently introduced an online service ‘Highway Forecast’, which provides details of the weather on highways connecting 13 important destinations in the State, including Chennai, Kodaikanal and Nagapattinam. Highways of Puducherry will also be covered under the service.
The service, available on www.imdchennai.gov.in, will have details of the forecast for the next 24 hours, including maximum and minimum temperature and the possibility of thundershowers or heavy rains.
This type of user-specific weather services is offered by meteorological departments in other countries, including UK and USA. Some private online weather service providers give details for travel-related weather forecast on even an hourly basis or for 15 days.
S.R. Ramanan, director of area cyclone warning centre, said the new service would also help to plan trips by taking into consideration the prevailing weather conditions at their destination.
“We have developed this service with the data available in the weather stations in these locations. We will add more features and places depending on the patronage,” he said.
More, better services
As part of its efforts to upgrade its website and be more user-friendly, the department is in the process of adding more features.
“We have digitised the data on thunderstorms and cyclones. This would be useful for people to check details of thunderstorms in their region and the rainfall received,” said an official.
Statistics on cyclones as well as depressions over Indian seas have also been digitised and have been made available as ‘cyclone e-atlas’. “Earlier, we had to check the old records for any data on cyclones. People can now check the movement of cyclones and specific details by accessing the link of the cyclone warning and research centre,” an official said.
The department plans to add analysis related to winds during tropical cyclones soon. There are also plans to add more tailor-made user services such as venue-specific forecasts.
Mobile service delayed
The launch of mobile weather alert services through text messages is being delayed in the city as the meteorological department is finalising some of the aspects such as the number of weather parameters to be covered and whether it would be a paid or free service.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by K. Lakshmi / Chennai – July 17th, 2013
Bananas at a field near Gudalur in Theni district on Tuesday. / Photo: G. Karthikeyan / The Hindu
Precision farming techniques, effective irrigation methods yield high quality fruits with better shelf life
Progressive banana growers in Gudalur and nearby areas not only get bumper harvest this season but also get to tap global market, particularly countries in the Middle East. They harvest high quality fruits with better shelf life, thanks to advanced technologies, precision farming techniques, use of organic manure and effective irrigation methods.
“We do not directly export banana to foreign countries. We export through exporters. The high quality of the fruits, their uniform size, colour and long shelf life help us gain access to international market,” says R.Madhan Kumar, a banana grower from Lower Gudalur.
The weight of one bunch of bananas is around 45 to 56 kg. Some farmers have produced bunches weighing up to 62 kg. Many farmers in Gudalur have shifted to banana cultivation from grape, which is a labour-intensive one. Moreover, acute care is also necessary to protect the plants till harvest. Labour shortage has pushed most to shift to banana cultivation.
After 75 per cent of ripening, bananas are transported to harbours in refrigerated containers and shipped to countries in the Middle East in 12 days’ time. Later, the fruits can be kept alive for two months, say farmers.
The banana growers have also been selling raw bananas to agents who ripen them and market them in Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi and Chennai.
Now, some banana growers have started engaging themselves in direct marketing. They undertake ripening process on their own. The existing private ripening chambers in Chinnamnur are dominated by traders only.
To help banana growers, the Agri-produces Marketing Committtee has set up a ripening chamber with a processing capacity of five tonnes a day in Chinnamanur.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Theni – July 31st, 2013
At the Madurai flower market./ Photo: A. Shrikumar / The Hindu
From the jasmine fields to the flower market, Madurai Malli is a phenomenon that rules the whims and wants of traders and flower-lovers
At the Mattuthavani flower market, we first encounter putrefying garbage and slushy floor. Heaps of flower petals and leaves rot in the open and cattle roam around binging on them. There is only chaos, noise, rush and ubiquitously unpleasant odours.
A village woman pushes us aside dragging a huge gunny bag along. A man yells out flower names “Kanagambaram, Champangi…” Old women bargain with lungi-clad traders sitting cross-legged and holding a weighing balance. . Intricately woven garlands are displayed at every shop.
We wait for the moment, an explosion of colours and scents. And there they arrive. Rose varieties including Tajmahal, Jerpura, Dutch rose and Gladiator from Bangalore, ‘Champangi’ from Pallapatti in Dindigul, ‘Kozhi poo’ from Usilampatti, ‘Kanagambaram’ from Chinnamanur in Theni and ‘pattu rose’ from Rajadhani Kottai in Kodai Road… the scene changes to ariot of hues and a medley of fragrance.
But what we can’t escape or ignore is the strong refreshing whiff of ‘Gundu’ malli. There is no dearth of colourful blooms in the market but every buyer seems to be searching for the queen of blooms. Jasmines from various villages become one here, under the tag ‘Madurai malli.’
A jasmine bud. / Photo: A. Shrikumar / The Hindu
“Flowers from every village are different in texture and size,” says Rameswari, a buyer from Simmakkal. “We feel the bud between our fingers to check the quality .” Suddenly voices takes over as a fierce bargaining is on to fix the rate of the flower for the day. the After much haggling, the `farmer-trader-buyer’ trio arrive at a consensus. . “Every hour, the price varies depending upon the quality and demand,” says Muthu, another buyer. “The peak season of jasmine is during March to July. The quantity of flowers arriving at the market dwindles in winter.”
S. Ramachandran, president of Madurai Flower Market recalls the days when every farmer would bring 10 to 15 kilos of jasmine every hour. “Now, it is down to just 10 per cent,” he says.
Around Madurai, jasmine is cultivated in more than 30 villages spread over north and south blocks. The flowers from Eliyarpathi, Valayankulam, Salvarpatti, Parapathi, Parampupatti, Sundarangundu, Thirumal, Solanguruni, Vellakulam and Veppangulam are much sought-after for their size and texture.
What makes Madurai grown malli so unique? “The malli grown in our belt is bigger and the stem is stronger. It lasts long and the fragrance is intense. It’s because of the soil quality and the tropical climate,” says Mokkai a farmer from to Eliyarpathi, a village off the Arupukottai Road.
This village, as we discover, is known less by its name and more by its flower’s fame. Malli is the name of every first flower and every second girl child here. Our eyes feast on the blue hills, green fields, red earth and colourful people as we walk through Mokkai’s three-acre field. Long rows of lush green plants studded with bunches of sparkling white buds, steal the sight. We feel the moist earth – freshly watered — and inhale as much of the scent until it hits our brains.
“Beware!” warns, Samayakkal, a sexagenarian, from behind. “Snakes are waiting to greet you,” and we retreat in a huff. “We start our day before the dawn breaks. I have been doing this work for four decades and feel the fragrance in my fingers forever,” Samayakkal flashes a paan-stained smile. “Butwe have to brave the snakes,” her voice trembles remembering one of the workers who died of snake bite while working in the field two months ago.
It’s because of people like her that the much-acclaimed Madurai malli reaches places the world over, on time. “We dispatch the first batch of flowers at 6 a.m. to the airport to be sent to other countries and cities. From then on, every hour, we keep sending batches for the local and outstation markets,” she says.
Jasmine means more than just a flower to the 1,100 farmers and 10,000 other people dependent on it. It’s the lifeline in more than 30 villages in the south block. Mokkai, who has been cultivating malli for two generation, says, “Over the years, the production has come down to a quarter of what it used to be.” Scarcity of water, poor appreciation of the produce, shrinking farmlands and labour shortage seems to be the major reasons. Sadly, dry fields and dying jasmine are a common sight today.
Our next stop is Thirumal, a hamlet near Thirumangalam, where jasmine is said to be as common as any street-side flower. Butwe had to search the fields with malli playing hide-and seek! We found every other crop — groundnuts, ladies finger and brinjal – but not jasmine.
“Ealier, this village had only of jasmine fields. Now people have switched over to other plants,” Kathiresan narrates another heart-wrenching story about the slow death of jasmine . “Farmers should be involved in activities related to jasmine development,” he says. “Most traders and officials are far removed from the ground reality ,” says Kathiresan, whose four-acre jasmine garden has shrunk to 30-cents.
Though jasmine farming doesn’t require copious rains, the flower needs one lakh litres of water per acre, every 10 days to get maximum yield. The first buds can be harvested within 60 days of transplantation of saplings.
The parent sapling (pathiyam) for all the jasmine plants is obtained from Thangachimadam near Rameswaram. The sea breeze and optimum temperature is said to favour the growth of jasmine saplings in the coastal town.
The plant reaches up to three feet in three years time and lasts for 20 years yielding flowers every season. In each bunch, the plant gives up to twelve flowers. As jasmine buds bloom in the evenings, they are plucked in the early mornings to be sent to outstation markets.
A jasmine strand being woven in Madurai./ Photo: A. Shrikumar / The Hindu
The Madurai-bred jasmine has been accredited with a GI tag and has high potential to earn ample foreign exchange. “But, says Ramachandran, also a member of Madurai Malli Development Council, “the city lacks international connectivity, so the flower has to be channelled through other airports. As a result, other jasmine varieties from places like Sathyamangalam are exported in the name of ‘Madurai malli.”
A jasmine garland. / Photo: A. Shrikumar / The Hindu
The Council trains farmers and flower vendors on the techniques of marketing and weaving and also provides financial aid to encourage farmers to continue jasmine cultivation. “We want to save the flower from becoming extinct,” asserts Ramachandran.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by T. Saravanan and A. Shrikumar /Madurai – July 26th, 2013
Many people believed that Kodanad was a sleepy and isolated village overshadowed by Ooty till chief minister J Jayalalithaa made it as her second home. However, a two-part book titled ‘Blue Haven Ootty’ introduces it as the princes among hill stations as identified by Lord Erskine, then British governor of Madras presidency, about 80 years ago. To be released on Sunday, according to the authors, it would be the first and authentic travel guide on Nilgiris with detailed accounts about many hither to unknown facts about the hill station.
A product of years-long work by creative artist and writer DevarajRanganPorore and SuseelaDevaraj, the two parts book fills the void of a ready reference on the Blue Mountains and its past, present and future. “It is not just a description on places and buildings in the queen of hills. It talks about its people, their life styles, struggles, livelihood, culture and even environmental issues. There is a special section on tribes of the Nilgiris. It is not a conventional guide for routine tourists. Our aim was to give a comprehensive picture of the Nilgiris to the visitors,” said Devaraj.
What makes the book stand out is its display of more than 300 rare photographs reflecting the vibrancy of the Nilgiris. Birds, animals and even honey hunting and rock art have found place in the book. “It is a unique work. Those who write about tribes of the Nilgiris mention only the todas and badagas. The book contains information after an extensive research on the traditions of other tribes like kurumbas, kattunaikas and paniyas as well. There is a striking balance between nature, tourism and people’s struggle for survival,” said N Sadiq Ali, managing trustee of Ootty-based Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust.
“The Nilgiris is much more than Ooty but writers and photographers focus exclusively on Ooty. Upper Bhavani, Kodanad, Kothagiri, Avelanche, Glenmorgan, Pykara, Gudalur etc are also promising a lot for the visitors. The book provides a glimpse of all these places as well. The Nilgiri’s world famous home made chocolates and even the Nilgiri tea are being detailed in it with historical background. It also contains a travel map detailing places to see and accommodations available. The book has also included a list of eateries serving unique Nilgiri food.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / July 30th, 2013
Coconut cultivation can yield remunerative results through effective mechanisation, plant protection, and value addition, suggested a recently conducted seminar-cum-training programme on coconut cultivation and modern technologies, organised jointly under the aegis of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sikkal, and Coconut Research Station, Veppakulam, here in Vedaranyam.
Briefly touching upon the constraints faced by Cauvery Delta farmers, Dr. K. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore, in his keynote address spoke of technology-based diversification of cultivation. He stressed the need for selecting exclusive high-yielding coconut varieties for tender coconut, and copra production with high oil content and value addition.
Farmers were urged to form the coconut producers’ organisation with the support extended by NABARD. In a move to diversification, the Vice-Chancellor urged farmers to venture into production of value-added products from coconut through “secondary agriculture approach”.
Coconut is cultivated in all the districts of Tamil Nadu with Cauvery Delta Zone contributing to about 62,000 hectares of land. Nagapattinam holds about 4,100 hectares of land under coconut cultivation predominantly in Veppankulam coastal area.
Chairing the seminar, Collector T. Munusamy spoke on the importance of coconut cultivation and requested the coconut growers of the district to utilise the schemes available through the Department of Agriculture and the Coconut Development Board, Kochi. He requested the TNAU and its scientists to render periodic technological support on the latest innovations in coconut production. The District Collector released a Tamil booklet on Coconut Cultivation — Modern Technologies.
The training programme on coconut production technologies employed the use of visual aids by the scientists of Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam. The sessions entailed demonstrations on coconut manure, plant protection, root feeding of TNAU coconut tonic and use of TNAU coconut climber under the aegis of the scientists of KVK, Sikkal, were organised by the KVK, Sikkal, Nagapattinam scientists.
The inaugural sessions witnessed participation from C.V. Sairam, Principal scientist, ICAR, Bangalore.
U. Rajendran, Joint Director Agriculture, Nagapattinam; R. Rajendran, Professor and Head, KVK; Paramasivam, Field Officer, Coconut Development Board, Chennai; S. Mohandas, Professor and Head, CRS, Veppankulam; M. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, KVK, Sikkal, were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Staff Reporter / Nagapattinam – June 24th, 2013
In many villages in Madurai district, cotton is more than just a crop./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu
‘Paruthi’, an organic cotton brand, aims to promote rain-fed cotton, grown in Madurai, in the Indian fashion scenario
In 13 villages around Arasapatti near Tirumangalam in Madurai district, cotton is more than just a crop. It’s a symbol of life and livelihood for farmers in the black-soil belt, who have silently engaged themselves in a revolution to change the environment for the better. Nearly 400 farmers in the region have adopted organic cotton farming, saying a strict no to the usage of pesticides in their fields. From here the organic cotton cultivation extends into Mahalingam hills and the Western Ghats in Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district and parts of Sivaganga and Ramnad districts.
The cotton flower / Special Arrangement / The Hindu
“The farmers follow rain-fed cotton farming that involves multiple-cropping technique. It’s a short-staple cotton variety coming from indigenous seeds,” explains N. Muthuvelayutham, Secretary, Covenant Centre for Development (CCD) – an NGO working with cotton farmers around Madurai since 2006 to inculcate organic practices. “Organic cotton farming is labour-intensive and not lucrative. The farmers have to be encouraged to continue with the age-old techniques.”
The farmers follow rain-fed cotton farming that involves multiple-cropping technique / Special Arrangement / The Hindu
This is where ‘Kapas’, a campaign by Upasana Design Studio at Auroville in Pondicherry helps the farmers. Started in 2007, the project promotes indigenous cotton varieties, organic farming techniques and aims to position short staple cotton as the market strength. “This will empower the fragile rain-fed cotton farmers of Tamil Nadu,” vouches Uma, the founder of Upasana. “Indian domestic market doesn’t recognize organic cotton,” she rues, “99 per cent of our cotton is genetically modified.” “Adoption of organic cotton is the answer to reduce carbon prints,” she asserts.
‘Paruthi’ is an organic cotton brand / Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Uma launched ‘Paruthi’ as an organic cotton brand to promote the produce in the Indian fashion scenario. “Though organic cotton is expensive, large scale adoption of it in the prêt line will contain the synthetic cotton’s invasion of the market,” explains Uma, adding, “Long-staple cotton yarn can also be done in organic method but not many are aware of it.”
Paruthi’s cotton is purchased directly from the farmers around Madurai and they are paid a premium price as an encouragement to remain organic.
Muthu says most fall prey to genetically modified BT cotton seeds in order to achieve greater yields. But that spoils the soil and the environment as it involves usage of harmful pesticides“In organic farming, a range of cash crops, fodder and firewood crops that are natural pest-repellents are grown along with cotton. While the indigenous cotton seeds can be reused, the BT variety has to be bought afresh every sowing season.”
However, organic farming can only be done in rain-fed areas and not in irrigated-farmlands and that is what dissuades a farmer from growing short-staple organic cotton. “It hardly fetches profit for the investments he makes in irrigation facilities,” says Muthu.
A documentary shot by the Kapas team shows the ill effects of the pesticides and BT cotton seeds on the environment, soil and the health of farmers. Most times the pesticides fail to kill pests but the farmer ends up buying the expensive ones andlands in debts. The video also explains the causes for farmers’ suicides in the black-soil region in Vidharbha, Maharashtra. “Minor changes in farming technique can increase the yield and quality of organic cotton. In line sowing method, just 10 Kg of seeds is enough to give 200 Kg of cotton per acre,” says Muthu.
“The quality of cotton depends on picking. Cotton picked in jute gunny bags get spoilt as the fabric fibres get frizzed and contaminated.” The CCD has formed a group ‘Sevaipatti Organic Farmers Federation’ and assists the farmers with clean cotton bags for picking the fibre.
Today, 400-odd farmers spin their own yarns and weave them in handlooms / Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Today, 400-odd farmers spin their own yarns and weave them in handlooms at G. Kallupatti, provided by an NGO – ‘Reaching the Unreached of Indian Villages’ which has been working in the sector for 36 years. “The hoarse varieties are exported to Japanese companies that make kitchen wears like aprons, hand-cloves and napkins,” says Muthu. “And the finer cotton is sent to Upasana’s Kapas project under which it is designed and developed into clothes. Paruthi positions itself as a designer label yet aims to reach the masses. Currently Paruthi cotton is being marketed through 20 retail outlets in 11 cities across the country. “We conduct events, auditions and promotions for the brand. We will soon be launching a line of organic-cotton-made clothing with medicinal properties,” informs Uma.
So, the next time you purchase a cotton garment try to get an organic piece that’ll remind you of the need to change!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Shrikumar / Madurai – June 19th, 2013
A ‘Nalla Soru’ member preparing traditional food | R Satish Babu
When Rajamurugan, a catering graduate, was mulling an alternative for junk food, he hit upon the idea of bringing nutritious small millets into the modern day cooking menu.
Thus was born ‘Nalla Soru’, with a team of five members, all aged between 25 and 30, from different parts of Tamil Nadu.
“During my college days, I used to take part in several cooking competitions. I prepared food items using small millets and herbs. I used athimadhuram instead of sugar in halwas. My innovative cooking skills were appreciated by many and I won many prizes. That inspired me to take up this venture,” said Rajamurugan.
Coming from a family of agriculturists, Rajamurugan completed his masters in Business Administration and was pondering over starting a food processing firm.
While on the Tata Jagriti Yatra — an 18-day rail tour across India — Rajamurugan got introduced to a team ‘Nalla Keerai’ from Chennai that produced green leaves and vegetables through organic farming. That was when the idea of starting ‘Nalla Soru’ struck him. From then on, there was no turning back for him and his team.
“Making millets as a wholesome food item is our vision. By using small millets such as thinai (foxtail millet), saamai (little millet), varagu (Kodo), pani varagu (proso millet), kudhiraivaali (barnyard millet), ragi (finger millet), kambu (pearl millet) and solam (jowar), we are now able to cook more than 150 traditional food items. We conceptualised this in 2005, but implemented it only a year before,” he said.
“There are many preparing similar kind of traditional food items. But we are the only team using only small millets in our preparation.” The small millets and other required ingredients are brought from areas such as Tirumangalam in Madurai, Thanjavur and several other places from Andhra Pradesh. Vegetables used in the food are grown by organic farming method. “We only use mud pots for cooking,” he said.
Adding that traditional dishes are still in vogue in several parts of Kongu region and Madurai, he said, “Sunduvara Rasam and Kozhi Saru in Kongu and Madurai respectively would be given to women post-delivery, as they cleanse the uterus.”
In parts of Madurai and Thanjavur, Ulunthangkali is given to girls who attain puberty and in Kongu region, Karuppatti Pottukkadalai mix is the most preferred.
The protein and iron rich food items will protect girls from becoming anaemic,” Rajamurugan said. “We must pass on the benefits of traditional food items to future generations. I am in the process of writing a book on these food preparations,” he added.
But how much will these food items cost? “Less than a pizza, burger or noodles,” Rajamurugan quipped.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by N Vinoth Kumar – Chennai / January 03rd, 2013
Organic vegetables on display./ Photo: A. Shaikmohideen / The Hindu
Good food is not just a privilege of the rich. As people are discovering what a powerful impact food has on health, they’re realising how important it is to ask where your food comes from, and how it is grown. Over the last ten years the market has responded to this change in different ways. The most interesting response has been a feisty wave of idealistic, energetic small businesses. All run by people who’re fuelled more by ethics than economics. Hopefully this is just the beginning. Organic food may not be mainstream yet in Chennai, but thanks to businesses such as these, it’s more accessible, affordable and attractive than ever before. Shonali Muthalaly and Anusha Parthasarathy track the trend.
Organically grown vegetables offer a better taste./ Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu
Vaer
After working on it for a year, Kayalvizhi Raja and Shriram Narayanan launched Chennai’s first organic vegetable website on April 1, inspired by an organic farmer in Tenkasi. “He told us how he had major health issues, all of which were resolved when he converted his farm into organic,” says Kayalvizhi.
They find farmers via the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University. “Lots of farmers take courses and register with them. So, if we want grapes, for example, then we find people who grow them, and directly buy from their farms.”
Kayalvizhi says, “We want to make organic food affordable. Our greens are Rs. 20 a bunch. Which is the same as the regular market price. And delivery is free.”
Their stock changes ever day. “My only marketing source is Facebook… So if I get something new I put it up there. It’s usually sold out by the next day!”
Vaer encourages people to try new varieties of fruits and vegetables. “We offer a mixed box of mangoes. Even if people order just one variety, we try and send a couple of different types along with their order, complimentary.”
The biggest challenge, she says, is educating customers. “Yes. Organic food doesn’t stay fresh for long. But that’s a good thing. It means it’s chemical-free.”
Vaer focusses on local foods in their ‘Country Special’ section, such as coconut palm sugar, karuppu kavuni rice and ragi pappads.
Address: www.vaerorganic.com
Phone: 094446-67070
Organic Green Store
Cramped, chaotic and bristling with a fascinating range of goodies, from fragrant cold-pressed oils to jars of nutty ghee, the Organic Green Store has fans across the city. Hemalatha, who started it in 2009, says she got interested in organic food after she had a baby. “I wanted to give my child food that was healthy and safe,” she says.
Today, they buy from about 20 farmers across the State. Her customers, who come from as far as Vellore, are loyalists thanks to the quality of her vegetables, many of which arrive in packages bearing the names of the farms on which they were grown. “People love our papaya, which comes from Mettupalayam,” she says.
The Organic Green Store is also known for its cold-pressed oils: coconut, sesame and groundnut. “The oil comes from different sources, depending on the season,” says Hemalatha. “Groundnut, for example, is sometimes from Udumalpet, sometimes Coimbatore.”
With two outlets, one in Anna Nagar and one in Periyar Nagar, they deliver vegetables on Saturdays.
Started in 2008, ReStore is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. Radhika Rammohan, one of the founders, says the idea was to “connect with the sources of our food. To know where it’s coming from. To support local organic farmer.” She adds that they decided to work as volunteers to encourage more people to get involved, and bring down the cost of the products.
They work with 25 individual farmers and about 10 organisations that help farmers. In addition, they support around eight businesses that make organic value-added products. Around 70 per cent of their food comes from within Tamil Nadu, and the rest from the neigbouring states in an attempt to reduce food miles.
Specialising in traditional grains, they offer a range of millets. Their ‘multigrain kanji mix’ made with red rice, millets, thinai, samai, samba wheat, etc. is one of their signature products. Besides vegetables, they stock foods such as organic jaggery, handmade peanut butter and freshly made sambar powder.
ReStore also organises a vegetable and fruit bazaar on Tuesday and Saturday between 12 noon and 7 p.m.
Address: ReStore Adyar Centre, No 27/ 10, 2nd Main Road, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600020
Phone: 044-24430093
Dhanyam
Dhanyam began in 2010 with the idea of becoming a one-stop shop for organic goodies. It offers a range of groceries, vegetables and fresh fruits, all organic. “I was always interested in organic food and found that there weren’t many outlets in the city. And even the ones that were there were dark, dingy and not professionally run. That’s when the idea for Dhanyam originated,” says co-founder Madhusoodhanan K. The store gets fruits and vegetables twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) from farms in Kodaikanal, Tirunelveli, Erode, Gummudipoondi and Coonoor. Some fruits such as grapes and pomegranates come from farms in Karnataka and Maharashtra. “We have seasonal fruits which means we’re selling a lot of mangoes now. But on an average, papayas and bananas sell well because they’re available year round,” he says. While Madhusoodhanan agrees that the price is higher when compared to the regular fare, he points out that it isn’t a deterrent. “People come for different reasons — health, environment and better taste. When you are sure about this lifestyle, the changes in price doesn’t matter.”
Address: Dhanyam is located at No.24, North Boag Road, T.Nagar
Phone: 28157654
Sunday Shandy
P. B. Murali (along with his friend Ranganathan) has been an organic farmer for the last 22 years and has spent the last 10 years selling organic fruits, vegetables and produce at Luz Church Road, under the banner ‘Sunday Shandy’. “We had the market on Sunday initially but since it interfered with my farm activities, it has now been shifted to Friday. The other days, I sell packaged organic products,” he says. Pineapples from Nagaland, apples from Himachal Pradesh and sweet lime from Krishnagiri… Murali sources his organic products from all over the country. “Once people get used to the taste of organic fruits, especially, it’s hard to go back to the regular ones,” explains Murali, “I specialise in organic mangoes and grow mostly Alphonso, Banganapalli and Imampasand varieties on my farm.” Murali also sells unprocessed milk every Wednesday.
Murali’s shandy is held every Friday between 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
Address: No.177, Luz Church Road, Mylapore
Phone: 93806-91203
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Shonali Muthalaly and Anusha Parthasarthy / May 26th, 2013
