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| Sudhakaran, Rayirath Nursery, Pattikkad, Thrissur Ph: 0487- 2282136 2282526 |
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The sudden demise of his father had forced a young man of 21 to keep his Botany graduation certificate in safe custody and take up the task of rice mill business. But 8 years ago, Sudhakaran realized his calling in life. Although the certificate was still in safe custody, three years of study had infused enough self-confidence in him to start a 1-acre nursery at Pattikkad on the Thrissur-Palakkad National Highway.
What began as a nursery soon added to its catalogue saplings of fruit bearing trees, fancy plants and finally medicinal plants. Today, the 8-acre coconut farm has become the largest nursery of medicinal plants in the State. Almost 300 varieties of such saplings are available for sale at the Rayirath Nursery. Many of these are rare plants.
A few of the rare plants require quite a good scrutiny to differentiate from other species. In the Rayirath, each species of plant is arranged separately and their names, botanical names and family names are displayed prominently.
Another value added service of Sudhakaran is the booklet on medicinal plants which contains, among other things, information on varieties available in Kerala, items available in his nursery, list of medicinal plants which farmers can profitably cultivate, their cultivation methods, financial implications etc.
He sells the saplings to ayurvedic medicine manufacturers, government institutions, nurseries etc. He has even designed medicinal gardens in many colleges. Students of Kerala Agriculture University visit his nursery to learn about rare herbs.
Recently, the banyan sapling that President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam planted in the International Centre started by Matha Amrithanandamayi was a product of Sudhakaran’s nursery.
Courtesy: Abe Jacob, Karshakan, April 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
