How farming collectives in Thiruvananthapuram are reaping success

krishikkoottams or farming collectives which is a kerala government initiative has seen the mushrooming of several ventures in thiruvananthapuram

Vilappil Madhuram, launched in July, consists of savouries, pickles, tapioca, jackfruit and banana chips and chammanthippodi, all made by residents of Vilappil panchayat, a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram. The products will be available for sale at the Onam market of the panchayat on August 17, the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam, also observed as Farmers’ Day in Kerala.

The products have been made by five members, all of them homemakers, of Samrudhi Krishikkoottam in Vilappil, one among 2,175 Krishikkoottams registered in Thiruvananthapuram district. Krishikkoottam (farming collective), a state-wide initiative of the Kerala Government’s Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, is an extension of the Department’s ‘Njangalum Krishiyelekku’ (We, towards agriculture) campaign to promote farming in households.

“The Krishikkoottams fall into three categories — production of agricultural produce; manufacture of value-added products from agricultural produce; and farming-related services,” explains S Anilkumar, Principal Agricultural Officer, Thiruvananthapuram.

On May 16, 1,200 Krishikkoottams were launched at a state-level inauguration. By July, the number of registered Krishikkoottams crossed 24,000. “In Thiruvananthapuram, 1,869 groups are into production, 207 of them manufacture value-added products and 99 do agri-related services,” says R Krishnakumari, Deputy Director of Agriculture (National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas).

One of the success stories is from Kalliyoor, the hub of vegetable and plantain cultivation in Thiruvananthapuram. There are 212 Krishikkoottams spread across 21 wards in this panchayat. Besides an eco shop that sells all the harvested produce, Kalliyoor Krishi Bhavan launched brand Kalliyoor Greens to market the farm produce and value-added products. Orders can be placed via an app, Ecat, and home delivery is available within a 20-kilometre radius of Kalliyoor, three days a week.

“Nearly six months of planning have gone into the launch of this brand. Farmers are not used to this concept and it took time for to us build this team,” says Swapna C, agricultural officer, Kalliyoor Krishi Bhavan.

Kalliyoor Greens includes vegetables and fruits, fish and meat, dairy products, desserts, sweets and savouries, curry powders, cut-vegetables, honey, pickles etc. “Cut-vegetables is much in demand. It is managed by Raag Krishikkoottam. We had to employ more hands in addition to the Krishikkoottam members to finish the orders on time. We have our hands full with Onam around. We are planning to sell family kits with cut-vegetables,” she adds. Handmade products crafted from water hyacinth, made by two Krishikkoottams, and rice varieties such as Vellayani and Nenmeni Chittunda Kettinatti rice are marketed under the brand.