Vegetables have found pride of place at the 30th Annual Flower Show at Gopal Maidan in Bistupur.

Farmers under the self-help groups of Tata Steel Rural Development Society are making brisk business by selling organic cauliflowers, green peas, cabbage, broccoli and tomatoes at the show organised by the Horticultural Society of Jamshedpur, Jusco and Tata Steel.

Farmers, mostly from various blocks of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, are visibly happy with the sales.

In the three days, each farmer has earned around Rs 16,000 on an average.

“There is a huge demand for our vegetables. I have brought beans, green peas, cauliflower and cabbage and am very happy with the response. I got repeat customers who said the veggies tasted good. I have been a member of the self-help group since its inception 15 years ago. It has been very helpful especially with regard to the marketing avenues we have got,” Prafulla Mahato, one of the farmers from Bodam block of East Singhbhum, said.

Another farmer from Bodam, Santosh Kumar Mahato, said the veggies were free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. “We use natural fertilisers to boost crop production.”

Ruchi Narendran, the chairperson of Horticultural Society of Jamshedpur, at the event. (Bhola Prasad)

Tata Steel Rural Development Society offers technical and marketing help to these farmers besides training. Farmers maintain that their lives have taken a positive turn after becoming the members of self-help groups.

Tata Steel Rural Development Society is currently working with 10,000 farmers in eight blocks of the entire Kolhan region. The initiatives include productive farming and watershed management.

“We give training to farmers that enables them to understand crops better and improve yield. We also introduce them to proper markets to sell their produce,” said Rahul Kumar Mahato, an employee with the Tata Steel outfit.

Visitors were mighty impressed with the vegetable kiosk.

Avisha Anurag, a housewife and a resident of Kadma, said visted the fair twice to buy vegetables. “I bought a cauliflower and cabbage on the first day and they were awesome. We don’t get that taste when we buy from the market. So I came again today (Monday) to buy more veggies before the show ends on Tuesday.”

Former CM Arjun Munda visited the flower show on Monday and showed keen interest in the exhibits with chairperson of Horticultural Society of Jamshedpur, Ruchi Narendran, as the guide.

“I feel so happy to be here. It is wonderful to see people thronging the place with their families. Such a response encourages the organisors do something bigger and better every year,” said Munda.