Mohanlal and Meera Jasmine. Screengrab of a movieMuhamma (Alappuzha): Rampant use of pesticides in farmlands is affecting even film shoots, a leading filmmaker has said.
Sharing his experience, director Sathyan Anthikad recalled the shoot of a movie in a vineyard. “There was a scene in which Mohanlal was to take a grape from a bunch and offer it to Meera Jasmine. While we were about to shoot the scene, the keeper of the vineyard objected, since he had, a few minutes ago, dipped the bunch of grapes in a bucketful of pesticide.”
“We give such fruits to those undergoing treatment,” Anthikkad said, while speaking at the Sarojini-Damodaran Foundation’s Akshyasree Organic Farming award ceremony.
The organic farming initiatives in Kerala have reduced the state’s dependency on Tamil Nadu for vegetables. In Thrissur market alone, there is a decrease of 30 per cent in vegetables arriving from the neighbouring state, the director said.
Even while seeking hospitals with modern facilities, we still go by a doctor's opinion before consulting another, he observed.
The Foundation’s Patron Kumari Shibulal presided over the function.
Beena Sahadevan of Punnakuzhi House, Thrissur Mathilakom, received the state award, which carried a purse of Rs 55,555, for the best organic farmer.
District-level awards and consolation prizes were also distributed at the event.
The Foundation’s Managing Trustee S. D. Shibulal, Trustee Prof S. Ramanand, award committee convener K. V. Dayal, Muhamma panchayat president J. Jayalal, and ward member Umavathy were among those who addressed the gathering.
Dr Priyadarshanan Dharmarajan and Dr J. B. Roy conducted classes on ‘Sustainable Development in Farming’ and ‘Soil’, respectively.
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