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| Subhakesan, Kuttanchalveli, Polakkadan Kavala, Kanjikkuzhi, Chertala, Alappuzha Mob: 09744024981 |
Subhakesan’s four acre plot presents a farm in apparent neglect with many vegetables over-ripe for plucking and some fruits fallen on the ground. However, if one asks him how much he expects from his farm this year, the answer is, ‘about 10 lakhs.’ Not by selling vegetables, but by marketing its seeds.
It was by developing a green gram of 3 feet length in the front yard of his house that Subhakesan, Kuttanchalveli, Polakkadan Kavala, Kanjikkuzhi, Chertala, Alappuzha came into the limelight in 1996. This variety, christened ‘Kanjikkuzhi payar’ (green gram) generated a lot of demand and he soon took up the task of producing and selling their seeds. As the demand increased, he concentrated fully on producing seeds and selling them, through stalls and by post. Last year he had produced 400 kg of seeds, which included 150 kg of ‘Kanjikkuzhi payar’.
He cultivates vegetables throughout the year. Every day he collects seeds from the farm and dries them in the morning and evening sunlight.
He is well aware of the scope of seeds with the demand for small household farms. However, he insists that truth and dharma must be maintained by those who sell seeds. Many of the seeds obtainable at fairs and market do not have the required quality. He is keen that what he sells for ten rupees must produce vegetables for at least ten households.
Once, he had experimented with green gram in front of his thatched hut. His keen senses of observation and farming acumen have ensured that Subhakesan now has a livelihood to depend. Thus the thatched hut has now given way to a concrete house, thanks to his efforts in the farm.
But his mother Ratnamma still produces coir for the use in the farm. And his wife Lathika is an enthusiastic help in collection and packing of seeds.
Subhakesan uses paper cups made of newspaper to germinate seeds for transplanting. The advantage is that there is no need to remove the paper cup since paper will disintegrate in the soil.
Courtesy: Joby Joseph Thottunkal (text), Karshakashree, May 2014
