Wormy produce safer than toxic veggies, claim organic farmers

Short-term paddy and hybrid vegetables grown by farmers will have an adverse effect on the food chain weakening the human immune system and it is necessary to opt organic crops that grow at their own pace, BC Archana Kalyani, (HoD – Land use) State Planning Commission, said. “Earlier practice of paddy cultivation focussed on long term cultivable crops,” Kalyani said. “There is adequate awareness among the poultry industry that grows broiler chicken using steroids. But the same awareness and monitoring should be given to food grain and vegetable cultivations, too.”

The planning commission, which has the job of ascertaining the land use pattern of crops, is now creating awareness among government staff and the public on restoring traditional food practices which consists regular use of medicinal herbs.

Madurai based herbal medical practitioner V Nammazhvar who has authored books on medicinal plants advised the public and farmers not raise medicinal herbs as crops. Herbs should be allowed to grow naturally in their conducive ecosystem. They will lose their medicinal values and herbal traits if cultivated for commercial purpose, he said. Nammazhvar also urged the public to be aware of the medicinal purposes of indigenous herbs and recommended in-house medicinal garden. He also shared the preparation methods to produce medical syrups that could fight obesity, cardiac ailments and respiratory complaints.

Sharing the names of more than 100 herbs and their place of availability ranging from kaasini keerai (Cichorium intybus), aadathodai (Justicia adhatoda), thippili (piper longum), thumbai (Leucas) and veliparithi (Pergulia Daemia), the organisers exhibited literary works on herbal plants. Books on local herbs and their usage were also circulated among the participants.