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Ooty's vegetable cultivation history is rooted in the British era, with the Government Botanical Garden established in 1848 to supply vegetables at a reasonable cost to European residents, and later expanded to include other settlers.
British Influence: During British control, Ootacamund (now Udhagamandalam/Ooty) saw considerable vegetable cultivation by European settlers.
Government Botanical Garden: The Government Botanical Garden, established in 1848, played a key role in supplying vegetables to the European residents, with Captain Molyneux of the 2nd European Regiment managing the vegetable cultivation.
Vegetable Cultivation: Vegetables like potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and cauliflower, as well as fruits like peaches, plums, pears, and strawberries, were cultivated in the area.
Ooty Municipal Market: The Ooty Municipal Market is a major hub for the sale of these vegetables, with a daily wholesale auction.
Collective Farming: The concept of collective farming, with Farmer Interest Groups (FIG) and Farmer Producer Groups (FPG), is encouraged to promote collective cultivation and market linkages.
Organic Farming: There's a growing trend towards organic farming in the Nilgiris, with incentives and subsidies provided to farmers cultivating vegetables organically.
Carrot Cultivation: Carrots are a significant crop in Ooty, with the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department estimating that it is cultivated on about 2,800 hectares of land, producing 70,000 to 80,000 tonnes a year.
Ooty Varkey: Ooty is also known for its "Varkey", a type of sweetmeat, and efforts are being made to get GI recognition for it.
