Edarikkodu: For 72-year-old Pathummu Hajjumma of Thayyil in Ottathengu, fish farming is her favourite pastime.She cultivates around 1,000 ribbon fish (Vaala) in a pond she had built near her home.

Whenever she feels like preparing a fish curry for her family, she simply picks up her fishing rod, catches a fish from her own pond and cooks it fresh. She never sells her catch but generously shares it with friends and relatives.

Pathummu has been sourcing the fishlings to herfarm from the Fisheries Department. Initially raised in a small pond, the young fish are later transferred to a larger one. Hajjumma takes complete care of the fish herself, from feeding them daily to harvesting only when they are fully grown. A CCTV camera has also been installed near the pond to keep a watch on her prized stock.

It has been 50 years since she lost her husband, Thayyil Muhammad. After his passing, Hajjumma turned to farming as a way to support herself. Over the years, she found success in a variety of ventures including poultry, cattle, vegetable cultivation, and plantains all grown using organic methods.

Seventeen years ago, she began her journey in fish farming. This year, she was awarded the Best Elderly Fish Farmer by the Vengara Block Panchayat. Her two sons, Razaq and Ahmed Kutty, currently live in Saudi Arabia.