Organic paddy harvest begins

KOCHI: The harvest of the organic paddy field, a joint initiative of the Department of Botany, Cochin College, and the agriculture department, was inaugurated by Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany.Plantain, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, bittergourd, ladies finger, tapioca, spinach, radish and the like are being cultivated near the Department of Botany building in a completely organic manner. Tony Chammany welcomed the initiative of the college to encourage organic farming at a time when the use of chemicals in agriculture is leading to various health hazards.College manager T Vidyasagar presided over the function. Kochi Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan, assistant manager Dilip Khona, councillor T K Babu, agriculture officer T K Usha, M P Sasikala of the State Agriculture mission, head of the Department of Botany Mini P Mathew and principal M Rajagopalan were also present.