The panchayat, which was notorious for cancer-related ailments till a decade ago, promoted a holistic approach to tackle cancer.Malappuram: Call it the culinary route to healthy living - the 'Nalla Bhakshana Prasthanam' (the good food project), touted as the front runner of organic food movements in the state, evolved in 2010 in Ponnani. It still drives the the organic food efforts of a region.
The panchayat, which was notorious for cancer-related ailments till a decade ago, promoted a holistic approach to tackle the menace. As part of this, the panchayat planned and implemented a host of projects including waste segregation, plastic recycling, and sapling nursery.
The realisation that carcinogens were swiftly creeping into routine dietary patterns gave birth to the Nalla Bhakshana Prasthanam in 2010. It was the brainchild of M Sijin, who is also the current treasurer of the organisation.
Dr Sijin said the focus now was on producing an indigenous rice variety for Ponnani. The seeds of thought for the Prasthanam sprouted from a simple protest against Bt Brinjal in Chamravattom in Malappuram in December 2009. It later turned out to be a movement aimed at food self-sufficiency. In Chamravattom, the activists started a weekly market (Azhcha Chanda) for farm produce from around Ponnani.
The panchayat planned and implemented a host of projects including waste segregation, plastic recycling, and sapling nursery. The market then became a daily one, thanks to the efforts of a bunch of youngsters who also find time to hold together various sections of farmers. It was not easy to start cultivation on barren lands in the initial years, Dr Sijin said. “The land mafia was very strong and people were more interested in reclaiming the land and constructing buildings rather than tuning it into cultivable patches. The only way to resist reclamation was to start cultivation," he said.
It was just 25 acres of land. Later, more areas were taken up and by 2018, paddy was being cultivated on nearly 100 acres of land, the office-bearers said. They had branded their rice variety as 'Ponnari,' selling it in the open market for Rs 70. On select days, the rice was available at Rs 58 per kg.
The realisation that carcinogens were swiftly creeping into routine dietary patterns gave birth to the Nalla Bhakshana Prasthanam in 2010.“When the Supplyco takes paddy for Rs 23.50 a kg, we pay Rs 28. The paddy is processed in rice mill in Valanchery. Now, the Ponnani municipality has started a project to rejuvenate the rice with a motto – Ponnaryan Koyyunna Ponnani,” Dr. Sijin said.
An eco-shop to sell organic products at Pulikkakkadavu, near Ponnani, is now renovated with the support of agriculture department.
Read more: World Environment Day
