17-07-2025
Farmers' associations scale up magnitude of impending ‘Organic Seeds and Food Festival' in Tiruppur, in its second edition
Seeking to improve on the maiden organic seeds festival conducted last year at Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association (TNFPA) and the Tamil Nadu Nature Farmers Federation (TNNFF) have reached out to over 60 schools for participation in the various awareness competitions and activities planned for the Kongu Region Seeds and Food Festival at Tiruppur later this month.
Last time, there were about 1,000 students from 12 schools. This time around, the footfall will be many times more as the organic seeds and food festival have been scheduled for two days on July 26 and 27 at the DRG Marriage Hall along Palladam Road, encompassing painting and elocution competitions and debate on nature farming, and the support systems available under government schemes to propagate organic farming, according to the organisers.
Last year, the one-day event served the purpose of sensitising the upcoming generation to organic cultivation of vegetables and the significance of soil-suitability for specific vegetables.
This time, a display of ancient farm implements and farming practices will provide a peek into healthy living for several thousands of school students, who really matter for propagating organic sustainable farming in the long run, Ainthunai Velusamy, State coordinator of TNFPA and TNNFF said.
At least 10 hitherto lesser known edible banana varieties raised in a field by a nature farmer Senthilkumar, near Kanjikovil in Erode district, will be displayed, among several other crop varieties, Mr. Velusamy said.
A debate on 'Denied, hidden and forgotten traditions' and inherent politics will involve front-ranking nature farmers as speakers.
Votaries of organic farming will also deliberate on the 'political euphemism' behind replacement of the term 'genetic modification' with 'gene editing' by policy-makers, and drive home the importance of fulfilling the mandatory requirements of the substantial process of testing before introducing any genetically-manipulated seed variety, Mr. Velusamy emphasised.
Citing the instance of BT Cotton, he said the impact of the crop on entire food chain is seldom discussed.
The leftover cottonseed cake after extraction of the milk is used as feed for livestock and cattle. The milk yield from the animals again enters into the human food system.
The school managements seem to be already aware of the importance of organic farming, Mr. Velusamy said, observing that the enthusiasm from the invited schools to be a part of the nature-friendly initiative generates hope for promotion of sustainable organic agriculture among the upcoming generation.
'We are also reaching out to government schools and are keen on involving the students from the rural parts in the event,' he said.
