‘Grow your own fruits and vegetables at home’

‘Grow your own fruits and vegetables at home’

Whether you are a passionate farmer or a novice wondering how to cultivate fruits and vegetables for one's own needs, a group of people will support you with seeds, fertiliser and expertise.Meet the members of 'Oman Krishikkootam' loosely translated into 'a group of people loving farming', which has been making major strides in farming in available spaces at one's own convenience, over the past one decade."We are a group of people who love and promote farming and given the limitations of farming here, we encourage farming in the backyards, terrace, buckets or even throw-away containers," says Vinod Kumar, chief administrator of the group that has nearly 4,000 members.This community-driven initiative named Oman Krishikkootam, which is engaged in the promotion of backyard farming, will celebrate its tenth anniversary on April 19 with grand celebrations that involve distribution of seeds and natural fertilisers along with guidance on how to grow the plants with no artificial pesticides used."We are engaged in the making of natural pesticide using a blend of sardines fish and jaggery, which is left to ferment in darkness for 45 days and this eco-friendly alternative not only safeguards crops but also nurtures soil health, utilising food waste as a valuable