Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Agriculture | This rice variety is now a sought-after brand -S Anandan

This rice variety is now a sought-after brand -S Anandan

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Sep 9, 2017   modified Modified on Sep 9, 2017
-The Hindu

‘TK Kathir’ is cultivated in accordance with organic farming methods in Ernakulam village

KOCHI:
A local brand of organic rice named after a farmer’s grandfather and promoted by a political leader. But there is more to ‘TK Kathir’ than just that.

Grown by T.D. Robert, a relatively newly converted paddy farmer of Kanjoor village, the brand was much sought after at the recently concluded organic Onam Mela organised by the Jaiva Jeevitham farming collective at Rajendra Maidan.

“TK stands for Thekkekara Kunjuvareeth, my grandfather and a reputed farmer. The name ‘Kathir’ is in honour of an erstwhile rice variety,” says Robert, who was drawn to paddy cultivation by CPI(M) district secretary P. Rajeev a few years ago. The sack containing the rice identifies Rajeev as the brand’s goodwill ambassador.

Robert was a nutmeg farmer who strayed into organic paddy cultivation about six years ago, beginning it on 20 cents. “Subsequently, the Karshaka Sanghom lent me support, and with training in organic farming practices, I started expanding it on leased land,” he says.

Last season, Robert cultivated paddy over 36 acres and harvested around 40 tonnes, with a 1,200 kg yield from each acre. “It is processed retaining nearly 40% of bran. The plan is to expand cultivation to over 54 acres in the coming season as there is a steady demand, primarily from cooperative societies such as the Edappally Service Cooperative Bank’s farm outlet,” he adds.

For manure, Robert also uses waste water from the one-acre fish farm he tends, together with a friend. “I make it a point to strictly adhere to organic farming methods which give me a great deal of satisfaction,” he says.

But there is an issue which, he hopes, will be resolved soon. “Each seasonal cultivation demands an expenditure of around Rs.15 lakh, but I only get an interest-free loan of Rs.2 lakh from the Kanjoor Service Cooperative Bank for six months. Given that I am to pay a heavy interest for the remainder of the sum and that the entire money can only be recouped over a year, there is this desire to have a better loan free of interest to support farming. The Edappally bank, however, has been helpful as it pays me in advance for the rice,” says Robert, who is a member of the choir of St. Mary’s Church at Kanjoor.
 
The Hindu, 8 September, 2017, please click here to read more

The Hindu, 8 September, 2017, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-rare-experiment-tk-kathir-is-now-popular/article19646489.ece?homepage=true


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close