| Kurian, Pallilamkattil, Jellippara, Attappady, Palakkad |
At a time when cultivation of rice is disappearing from even paddy fields, Kurian, Pallilamkattil, Jellippara, Attappady, Palakkad has the distinction of having cultivated the crop in the hill slope of his 3-acre farm in the dry rain-shadow region of Attappady. Kurian had turned to natural farming inspired by the efforts of Japanese pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka’s ‘One Straw Revolution’.
Thus, although he had moved out of the steeply sloped farm in 3-month rainy season last year, fearing a landslip, his terraced farm held firm and not even a drop of water leaked. And not only water, soil too is firmly held in place by the terraces. Kurian says he does not need irrigation either. The initially constructed pond, pump house and water pump are all lying unused, he sums up about his experience.
Kurian, who migrated to Attappady from Thiruvananthapuram 40 years ago, first set about reclaiming the fertility of soil by converting the slope into 60 terraces and growing ‘ramacham’. Further implementation of ideas from Fukuoka saw his farm produce mixed crops with good yields. Selected the best farmer of Agaly Panchayat in 2001 and 2003 and chosen by the Kalkandi Branch of Canara Bank as a model farmer, Kurian has been active in nature farming, environmentalism and natural living.
His wife Elikkutty assists him in the farm. The couple, who have no children, considers the farm as their child. “Will any one feed poison to their children? I do not apply chemical fertilizers in my farm,” he says.
Courtesy:
Kerala Kaumudi, March 2, 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
