Palakkad woman replaces rubber with paddy, scripts success story in family farm

Rajakantham, a farmer from Peruvembil in Palakkad district, standing next to a lush paddy field, says contently, “I've been in farming for half a century. There have been profits, and there have been losses. Crop failures and price drops have been disheartening. But ultimately, farming has now become profitable.” She took over the family farm 50 years ago after the unexpected death of her husband.

His untimely demise occurred when she was newly married and pregnant. Farming was the family's sole source of income. In Palakkad at that time, farming meant paddy cultivation. Paddy cultivation was also a family tradition for Rajakantham’s family. Her husband managed the 15 acres of paddy land that was their family property. Realizing that life couldn't go on without continuing the farm, Rajakantham took the reins. Even after her son, Ghosh, grew up, studied, and went abroad, Rajakantham didn't abandon farming. Furthermore, she diversified her crops, adding coconut, rubber, fruit trees, and fish farming alongside paddy.

Rubber's success
Unlike other farmers, Rajakantham doesn't criticize or abandon rubber due to price fluctuations. She diligently maintains her 10-acre rubber plantation. “Although the profit isn't as high as during times of higher prices, rubber still provides a decent, stable income,” says Rajakantham. Rubber cultivation is still uncommon in Peruvembil. When she started rubber cultivation 25 years ago, on 10 acres all at once, it was a curiosity for other farmers.

Many doubted whether rubber would yield well in Palakkad's hot climate. However, Rajakantham had no such concerns. Born and raised in Kizhakancheri, an area with many migrant farmers in Palakkad, she had been familiar with rubber cultivation from a young age. It was with this confidence that she converted 10 of her 15 acres to rubber. Rajakantham believes this decision was the right one.

She chose the RRII 105 rubber variety, a long-proven high-yielding clone, instead of newer varieties. The reason for selecting this clone was its ability to withstand adverse weather conditions, disease, pest infestations, and its consistent yield. Tapping started seven years after planting. There are 1600 trees in the 10 acres. Tapping is done on alternate days, dividing the trees into two groups of 800 each. Previously, she sold rubber sheets, but now she sells latex. Monthly sales exceed 1.5 lakh. After deducting expenses, including wages, the monthly profit is around 1.5 lakh, averaging 12,500 rupees per acre. She admits that this is less than the profit during times of high prices and low costs. However, she doesn't consider it a bad return. While it's not a spectacular profit, the consistent income is a significant advantage of rubber, according to Rajakantham. She adds that those with one or two acres of rubber can increase their profit by tapping themselves. Therefore, Rajakantham has no intention of reducing her focus on rubber.

Other income-generating crops
Despite the lower returns compared to the labour involved, Rajakantham still cultivates paddy on three acres, a crop she cherishes. She cultivates two crops a year without fail, experimenting with different varieties of paddy. Along with standard varieties like Uma and Jyothi, she also tries Manuratna, AST 16, and Tirupati 50, noting that Manuratna and Tirupati 50 are high-yielding. She also has 300 Kuttiadi coconut trees. Until last year, she harvested an average of 3000 coconuts every 45 days. This year, the yield has significantly decreased, but good prices compensate for the reduced production.

A 1.5-acre pond is stocked with Catla and Rohu fish. The annual harvest provides a substantial income. Two small ponds, one with climbing perch and the other with ornamental fish, also contribute to the income. Half an acre is dedicated to cultivating nutmeg and lime. Rajakantham believes that small-scale farmers can only make farming profitable through multi-cropping, avoiding reliance on a single crop. This is the only way to overcome production shortages and price drops.

Ghosh, her son, who worked abroad and in India for many years, now works full-time on the farm with his mother. Both mother and son share the same enthusiasm, viewing farming as a traditional way of life that they cannot abandon.