Kakkulissery: The bottle gourd vines spread like a lush green canopy over the countryside, bringing joy to the hearts of the local farmers. Earlier, they were reluctant to grow bottle gourd as the vegetable didn’t have any demand or price. But, now, this simple vegetable has become a part of the menu in many households. Moreover, bottle gourd, also known as louki, is a popular vegetable among the migrant workers and cook them on a regular basis. 

Pallipadan Xavier, a farmer in the area says that the migrant workers prefer bottle gourd as it is a delicious vegetable that could be enjoyed on a low price. He grows bottle gourd in 1.5 acres of leased land. He recalls that earlier no one wanted the vegetable even when the farmers were willing to sell them for just ₹5 per kilo. Now, a kilo of fresh bottle gourd costs ₹30. Meanwhile, retailers sell them for up to ₹40 – 45 per kilo. The demand for locally grown vegetables including bottle gourd has gone up as the vegetable supply from Tamil Nadu has decreased. The bottle gourds that are freshly plucked from these farms are mainly sold at the Aluva market. 

From Aluva, the vegetables are exported to Perumbavoor and Kalady regions where migrant labourers mostly live. Besides bottle gourd, snake gourd and cucumbers are also grown in the farmlands in the countryside.