Kumali: Many educated youth are averse to take up farming despite the freedom and happiness it offers. It is true like any vocation farming too has its challenges and frequent reports of farmer suicides are depressing. However, a young marine engineer here in Kerala's Idukki district had no qualms while saying no to high-paying jobs to take up farming.
Yadu S Babu (25) of Parvanam House at Chellarcovil, Anakkara, got two job offers as he completed studies. But he chose farming instead and is active on the farm for two years now. He does new experiments in vegetable cultivation.
His father Sasindra Babu, who had taken voluntary retirement from the State Bank of India, is also into commercial farming. Sasindra is the the MD of Green Gold Cardamom Producing Company at Vandanmedu in Idukki district. Yadu, however, is interested in growing vegetables, though black pepper and plantain are also raised on his farm.
Yardlong beans (achinga), broad beans (avarakka) and tomato that flourish on a one-acre land is testament to Yadu’s commitment to farming.
Nets installed 7 metres vertically are used as support for beans and tomato plants instead of the traditional method of spreading ropes horizontally above. Plants get more sunlight this way, this increasing yield, Yadu noted.
But why farming after completing an expensive course? Stress-less life, Yadu said. Parents’ interest in farming might be another influence, he added.
Love of oceans as a child prompted me to take up marine engineering. I turned down another offer from a shipping company in Mumbai recently. But nothing can lure me away from farming, Yadu revealed.
His mother Sasikala is the headmistress of the Devaswom Board School at Erumeli.
