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| Santhakumari, Elantha Kulambu, Nenmara, Palakkad |
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Santhakumari’s life is an example of how the love of the soil and willingness to shed sweat on it, can make vegetable cultivation a resounding success.
When Santhakumari, a housewife and her husband Sankarankutty, a clerk in Kollangode Block Office, purchased 4½-acres of barren land in Elantha Kulambu, in Nenmara in 1984, their main capital was a firm faith that the soil will not betray one who is willing to work hard on it.
Today that faith has paid off. Their farm presents a feast to the eye with vegetable cultivation in an ordered array. And the crowning glory came last year when the State Government chose her for the ‘Karshaka Mitram’ award.
Though husband and children help her in the chores in the farm, it is Santhakumari who does the helmsman’s job. She decided to step into agriculture when the income from the husband was becoming insufficient for the domestic needs.
In 1979 they experimented with pepper cultivation in 2-acres of land in Sultan’s Battery, Wayanad. However, as the profit from the venture was not commensurate with the effort, they sold off the holdings and settled for the barren land at Elantha Kulambu.
She recalls how it was almost impossible to get a bank loan for agriculture in those days. However, once a bank manager happened to see their farm and the impressive work Santhakumari was doing there. From then onwards financial assistance was easier to come by. This when combined with the cooperation of officers from Agriculture Department helped her reap a rich harvest from her hard work.
Santhakumari steps into the farm at 5.30 in the morning with a radio in hand. She comes back to the house only by nightfall. Food is taken to the farm by her children. Daughters Rekha, Sini and son Aneesh help their mother during daytime, while Sankarankutty joins the work after office hours.
Courtesy: Pradeep Ushas, Mahila Ratnam, March 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
