Kerala's 93-year-old farmer is still busy on his farm: Secret of his fitness

Kottayam native Varkey took a sip of the hot kanjivellam (rice porridge water) brought by his wife, Annamma, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and took his hoe, heading to the farm to tend his ginger saplings. Myalumadathil MM Varkey, a native of Kotanalloor in Kottayam, proves that age is just a number as he works hard, even at the 'tender' age of 93! His wife, 88-year-old Annamma, also shares his spirit, supporting him. 

A farmer from the age of 15
Varkey started working in the fields at just 15 years old. He was only 17 when he married Annakutty (Annamma), a member of the prominent Thoppil family from Kanjirathanam. The couple has nine children, and they are proud that all of them are doing well in life. Varkey and Annamma currently live at their younger son Biju’s house. However, the old couple is alone as Biju and his family are settled abroad. Another son, Emmanuel, lives close by.

Varkey owns a plot of 80 cents and some farmland too, where he grows cassava, plantain, ginger and turmeric. The 60-cent farmland is tilled, sowed and prepared for farming by the man himself. The nonagenarian says the paddy required for his household is grown in his field. Varkey has hot rice porridge as breakfast before heading to the field where he works till noon. 

Sometimes Annamma comes to the field to check on her husband. The couple would then rest under the shade while enjoying a heart-to-heart conversation. Earlier, they grew cows as an additional source of income. Varkey says that he could study only up to class five in the olden times and was relatively young when he accompanied his father to the fields.

Wish to work until possible
Varkey, who has been working hard on his farms, wishes to remain physically active and continue working in the field as long as he can. He is generally healthy except for some age-related hearing loss. Annamma, too, is apparently healthy and helps her husband in the field. If you ask Varkey why he is keen on working so hard even at this age, he replies with a smile, ‘’I wouldn’t have lived so long if I hadn’t worked.’’