Farmers to turn a new leaf in Madurai

MADURAI: Organic farming veteran Nammalvar may have died, but not his ideologies. Environmentalists attached to various organisations are coming together in order to promote organic farming. While organic farming in Madurai is in dire straits, as not even one percent of the total cultivation is done using such method, environmentalists and activists have started the 'iyarkai velan sutram' (organic farming relatives). The recently launched group conducted a two-day programme to educate a group of farmers in organic farming. The 25 farmers, most of them from Madurai district learnt the importance of organic farming, especially on carrying out agricultural activities in the most friendly way. Pamayan, a renowned environmentalist in the part of the state, also the chief consultant of the group, engaged the farmers. While the first day was filled with theory classes, the second day was full of field experience. Except for couple of farmers, others were using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The camp was carried out in an organic farm in Narasingampatti, 20 km away from Madurai.