The Onam shopping list of six families are devoid of veggies and groceries. It may sound strange but the story has been the same for the past six years. What grows in their backyard, makes way to their tummies. Pramod Kumar R.C., a police officer at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram, grows gold on a marshy land he bought to build a home several years ago. The home premises now sport a lush paddy field, vegetable garden, a tiny pond to cultivate fish and a modest cattle farm.
Pramod (R) with his former colleague Joseph
“Not just for Onam, but we don’t buy rice, vegetables, milk and eggs from outside. We need to bother only about sugar, spices and salt. Vegetables are grown on the land and in grow bags. We harvested 27 paras (a traditional measurement of quantity) of paddy this time. Kids in our family are active farmers now,” says a beaming Pramod.
Farming is one of the many interests V.C. Vijith and Vani V., a couple from Haripad, share. Having pursued her studies from the Agricultural University in Mannuthi, Vani walked straightaway to her ancestral farm, where Vijith joined her later.
Smitha and family
“We make sadya out of the paddy harvested about six months ago as recently harvested paddy turns harder when cooked. The farm is in Kannur, where my home is. The vegetables are from the sprawling four-and-a-half acres of farmland in Vani’s place in Haripad,” says Vijith.
Until his civil service examination preparations became intense, Vijith was almost a full-time farmer. Now, he has sought the assistance of his uncle to look after the cultivation.
From Paul K.J. comes an interesting story. This farmer-cum-lab-technician in Thrissur has buyers for his organically grown rice and vegetables from distant places.
Vijith and Vani
“I have wondered and asked many of them how profitable it is to buy rice and vegetables bearing a huge travel cost. They only want to eat safe and not risk their health,” he explains. Imagine, how huge an impact the Onam season can bring.
Freshly grown products from his 50 cents are a hot favourite among his close friend circuits and family. “Paddy alone would have a surplus of two to three tons a year. On Sunday mornings, we gather for an organic market in our place. In an hour, all the merchandise would be sold off,” says Paul. He says the lessons on farming were passed on through his genes.
Among techie community, Smitha Indira is a celebrated farmer. “No, I did not learn from How Old Are You, it might have been modelled after me,” she says and breaks into laughter.
City dwellers can take notes from this software professional in Technopark, who is a mother of two. As in the past couple of years, this time also, she’d have a fair share of terrace-grown vegetables.
Smitha harvests on the terrace of her home in Pothencode built on seven cents. “Two years back, I prepared Onasadya with the vegetables from my terrace garden. Soon after the house-warming ceremony in 2013, I placed a couple of grow bags on my terrace, since a pest attack would spoil the entire thing on the ground.
“It grew and now it is a pretty big terrace garden. We are vegetarians. This time, I have not got the expected amount of produce, still it is fine,” says Smitha. The proud vegetable gardener has elaborate plans for next year. Stay tuned.
