Bio-Pharmacy

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or farm science centres exist in almost all districts of the country to support farming activities. But only a handful of them are able to conceive new innovative ideas and transform them into action at the field level.

The Kerala Kannur kendra is one such institution that has been successful in introducing an agro bio pharmacy and farmers’ engineering service and training (FEST) centre.

The major problem faced while adopting organic farming is the non-availability of trustworthy organic products and the cumbersomeness of preparation of organic products.

Different products

An array of products ranging from tobacco decoction to pheromone traps are produced and sold at the pharmacy. The labour for the production of these items is provided by different self-help groups trained by the Kendra.

“It is a concept conceived by us and is aimed at providing inputs required for organic agriculture. Safe use of insecticides is just one of the numerous tools of Integrated Pest Management recommended by agricultural scientists to safeguard soil and human health,” says Dr. K. Abdul Kareem, Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kannur, Kerala Agricultural University.

“Farmers, however, usually depend solely on chemical insecticides as they think that this is the only practical control measure to obtain quick results. The biopharmacy offers organic substitutes to chemicals,” he adds.

Another important product available at the pharmacy and is quite rare in other organic bio input manufacturing units is neem oil soap named as Neem-X, which is a ready-to-use neem based pesticide.

The biopharmacy concept promoted throughout the State as the organic farming policy of the government envisages the phasing out of chemical pesticides and fertilizers from the farming sector to convert Kerala into an entirely organic state in five to 10 years.

The Hindu