In an era of chemical based farming being increasingly used in agriculture Jharkhand farmers are giving a healthy dose of organic compost to their produce and are reaping great benefits too. The two-day State level Horticulture Festival showcased Jharkhand farmer’s inclination towards organic farming.
Farmers who came to display their masterpieces cultivated on their lands exhibited trust on the vermi-compost that they believe helps in cultivating a crop without altering salinity of the soil and doesn’t destroys beneficial organisms. “Unlike chemical fertilizers vermin-compost is not toxic. It doesn’t kill earthworms that are beneficial for farming,” said Yugeshwar Daangi who came from Palamu. The festival was inaugurated by Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay in the presence of Secretary Agriculture & Sugarcane Development Nitin Madan Kulkarni, Director State Horticulture Mission Prabhar Singh.
Interestingly, farmers from Gumla, Hazaribagh, Deoghar and other parts of Jharkhand came to display super grown vegetables and flowers of different species and subspecies. However, amid flowers and vegetables stood a species of cabbage that mesmerized people for the purpose it is grown for. The cabbage that the growers can barely spell is used for decorating drawing rooms rather than used in kitchen. “This variety of cabbage was brought from probably the place bearing resemblance to Jharkhand in terms of soil and climate,” said Gupta ji, the person present at the stall to inform about the variety of cabbage.
Despite the aesthetic quotients of the vegetable growers are yet to explore market for the variety of cabbage. Nonetheless, the people behind the unique species believe that it will grab a good share in the market incidentally known for flowers only. “We have received good orders for the cabbage wherever we have displayed this vegetable,” maintained another person at the stall.