The Integrated Farming Systems Research Station (IFSRS) kits were launched as part of the Agriculture University initiative. The IFSRS, a station under the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), has introduced vegetable cultivation kits which could prove useful for city residents who have developed a passion for vegetable farming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each kit, priced at Rs 125, contains vegetable seeds, 250 ml of urine, dung and Pseudomonas. Jacob John, professor and head of IFSRS, said the response from the public was overwhelming. The kits contain seeds of tomato, amaranthus, chilli and eggplant. The Rs 125 kit and five grow bags are available for Rs 200.
Growbags filled with a mixture of soil, dung and coir pith are also available here for Rs.80. Recently, the children of Government Girls High School in Chala, in collaboration with the Police Cadet (SPC) Unit, launched an initiative to cultivate a portion of the wasteland on the school campus, IFSRS. The Research Center provides technical assistance to the project.
The State Government has called upon the public to grow vegetables in their homes to ensure food security during this crisis. The Agriculture Department has announced plans to distribute 70 lakh seed packets to the households across the State for the ‘Onathinorumuram Pachchakkari’ initiative this year.
