Thrissur’s Mattathur Panchayat: A Beacon of Agricultural Prosperity

Thrissur's Mattathur Panchayat: A Beacon of Agricultural Prosperity

VoM News Desk | September 16, 2023 | 05:49 PM IST | Breaking News, Kerala | Follow on Google News

Thrissur’s Mattathur Panchayat: A Beacon of Agricultural Prosperity. Image/EPS

In a time when reports of distress among vegetable and fruit farmers echo across the state following the Onam season, Mattathur panchayat in Thrissur emerges as a shining example of the resilience and potential of farming as a dependable source of income.

Bountiful Harvest Amidst Adversity

During the Onam season, commencing ten days before Thiruvonam, the two farmers’ market platforms, overseen by the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK), etched their names in the record books. They achieved remarkable sales figures for a diverse range of vegetables and fruits, including the coveted Nendran banana.

The cumulative collection amounted to an astonishing Rs 1 crore! On a single day, August 17, coinciding with the onset of the Malayalam month of Chingam, VFPCK outlets in Mattathur made headlines by selling nearly 25 tonnes of the highly sought-after Nendran banana, raking in a staggering sum of Rs 15.50 lakh.

Agriculture Thrives in Mattathur

Mattathur panchayat has carved out fertile grounds for agriculture, with approximately 350 acres dedicated to vegetable cultivation, an additional 250 acres earmarked for plantains, and diversification into crops such as Rambutan. Impressively, among its 55,000 residents, more than 10,000 have chosen farming as their primary occupation.

Leaders in Agricultural Endeavors

Standing tall with the highest number of registered farmers under the state government’s Agriculture Information Management System, Mattathur panchayat outshines its peers. Even the second-ranking panchayat falls far short in terms of farmer participation. This statistical triumph underscores the role of agriculture as a substantial revenue generator.

Inspiring Success Stories

Mattathur is home to inspiring success stories, with a recent graduate amassing a remarkable Rs 38 lakh within a year through vegetable farming. This extraordinary achievement not only underscores the dedication of the people but also highlights the fertile nature of the local soil.

Reviving the ‘Kadhali’ Initiative

In 2009, the proactive then Puthukkad MLA, C Raveendranath, initiated the ‘Kadhalivanam’ project, focusing on cultivating the ‘kadhali’ variety of bananas in Mattathur for supply to the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple. While the pandemic temporarily disrupted regular supply due to temple closures, farmers are gearing up to rejuvenate full-scale ‘kadhali’ farming, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted supply of this banana variety.

Steady Nendran Supply

At any given point during the season, Mattathur boasts at least 5 lakh Nendran plantains, guaranteeing a consistent availability of this beloved banana variety.

Agricultural Bounty Draws Crowds

In recent times, people from other states have made pilgrimages to Mattathur to procure the renowned Nendran bananas, owing to limited access to high-quality bananas in their local markets. The farmer producers’ company in the region capitalizes on this demand, crafting chips and energy drinks from the bananas harvested in the panchayat.

VoM News Desk

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