With Kasaragod having declared an organic district, the State-owned Seed Farm here has decided keep all chemical fertilizers and pesticides away from its 25-acre paddy field at Karanthakad this season. The Farm cultivates paddy to supply hybrid seeds to farmers. Deviating from its earlier practice, the Farm this year is to adopt organic farming techniques. It is using hybrid ‘Aishwarya’ seeds for cultivation using traditional organic manure like cow dung and Neem cakes that are known to give higher yield. The paddy cultivation, which once reflected the dignity of the farming community in the State, has dwindled considerably over the years owing to poor market prices coupled with mounting cost of both labourer, which is in acute shortage, and chemical fertilizers. However, braving all odds, the Seed Farm is going organic this year, which should inspire the micro landholders in the district blessed with natural resources in abundance.