PALAKKAD: 600 tonnes of vegetables produced in a year. Vegetables given to Elevancherry's Self-Help self-help farmers group under the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK). 1.15 crores received as cost. Sivadasan, a native of Elavancherry Panangattiri, has become a crorepati farmer. This is the result of taking up a hoe after 10th standard and working hard. This is the first time in the 24-year history of VFPCK that such a large amount has been transferred to a farmer in the state as product price in a financial year.

Sivadasan farms on his own 8 acres and on leased 10 acres. Bitter gourd on 12 acres, snake gourd on 5 acres, beans on 1 acre, and ridge gourd, okra, wax gourd, and pumpkin as intercrops. Hybrid seeds are used in farming. The best yielding indigenous varieties are selected. One kilo of cross bred Bitter gourd seeds costs Rs. 2,500. Hybrid seeds cost Rs. 16,000. Snake gourd costs the same. The average price of Bitter gourd of the variety Preethi is Rs. 40 per kilo. Maya seeds cost Rs. 30-32. Snake gourd usually costs Rs. 15-20 per kilo.

Rs. 3 lakh for two seasons

The cultivation is done in two seasons. Bitter gourd and Snake gourd are sown in the beginning of April and beans at the end. Snake gourd and beans are sown in the second season in September. The farming is done in permanent pandals made of GI wire stretched over concrete posts. The average cost per acre in the first season is Rs. 2.5 lakh. In the second season, the cost will be reduced as the cultivation is done in the same farm. The average cost for both seasons is Rs. 3 lakh.

Crop, Production (in kg), Amount received

bitter gourd...............................218237...... 7698836

Snake gourd..................................87887..... 1479282

Beans ..................................13270...... 529339

Wax gourd.............................9903...... 118716

Melon..................................13011......148060

Ridge gourd.............................2432...... 67218

Okra .......................................5...... 125

Coconut.................................835....... 23885

(As on December)