Kudumbashree Exceeds Target for Onam Vegetable Cultivation in Kerala

Kudumbashree, Kerala’s state poverty eradication and women empowerment mission, has surpassed its targets for pesticide-free vegetable farming ahead of the upcoming Onam festival season. Through its flagship agricultural initiatives—’Onakkani’ for pesticide-free vegetables and ‘Nirappolima’ for floriculture—the mission has significantly expanded crop production across the state.

What Happened

Following last year’s harvest where Kudumbashree cultivated vegetables on 8,913 acres and flowers on 1,820 acres, the mission set expanded targets for the current year. The goals were established at 12,000 acres for vegetable farming and 2,000 acres for flower cultivation. Latest figures show that Kudumbashree surpassed its vegetable farming goal, expanding ‘Onakkani’ cultivation to 20,475.81 acres. Cultivation under the ‘Nirappolima’ floriculture initiative reached 1,966.93 acres, coming close to its target.

To manage operations, an agricultural coalition was established across 1,007 community development societies (CDS) and 153 blocks in 14 districts, including the special block of Attapady. Cultivation was undertaken by 33,875 joint liability groups (JLGs) under Kudumbashree, who identified fallow lands and suitable plots. An example includes the Malarvadi group, which cultivated marigolds at Parali grama panchayat in Palakkad district.

Key Highlights

• Vegetable Farming Expansion: ‘Onakkani’ pesticide-free vegetable cultivation expanded to 20,475.81 acres, exceeding the 12,000-acre target.
• Flower Cultivation: ‘Nirappolima’ floriculture reached 1,966.93 acres, near the 2,000-acre objective.
• Farmer Participation: A total of 33,875 joint liability groups participated, including 28,187 JLGs dedicated to ‘Onakkani’ and 5,688 JLGs focused on ‘Nirappolima’.
• Planting Supply: Kudumbashree’s ‘Jaivika’ organic plant nurseries provided high-yielding hybrid vegetable seedlings and marigold saplings for self-reliant production.
• Harvest Produce: Crops prepared for harvest include traditional vegetables such as cowpea, okra, long beans, tomato, green chilli, bitter gourd, snake gourd, bottle gourd, brinjal, pumpkin, and ash gourd.
• Organizational Reach: Coordination spanned 14 districts, incorporating 1,007 CDS and 153 blocks, including Attapady.

Why This Matters

Kudumbashree was established in 1997 with the core aim of eradicating poverty and empowering women. The ‘Onakkani’ and ‘Nirappolima’ initiatives were launched to ensure a steady supply of safe, pesticide-free vegetables and local flowers during Onam. In addition to meeting market demand, the program allows hundreds of women farmers in Kudumbashree neighborhood groups (NHGs) to earn income and gain economic self-reliance.

What to Watch Next

The harvested vegetables and flowers will be sold directly to consumers through local markets and specialized ‘Kudumbashree Onam Markets’ established for the festive season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Onakkani and Nirappolima?

‘Onakkani’ is Kudumbashree’s flagship program for pesticide-free vegetable farming, and ‘Nirappolima’ is its state-wide floriculture initiative for Onam.

How many groups carried out the farming?

A total of 33,875 joint liability groups (JLGs) carried out the cultivation, consisting of 28,187 groups for vegetables and 5,688 groups for flowers.

Where can consumers buy the produce?

Products will be made available through local markets and dedicated ‘Kudumbashree Onam Markets’ during the festive period.

Source: The Hindu