Hard work turns fields and lives green for Raghavan and Karunakaran in Kasaragod
Vegetable farming success shines for Raghavan and Karunakaran in Kerala, as their hard work turns fields and lives green.
Vegetable farming success shines for Raghavan and Karunakaran in Kerala, as their hard work turns fields and lives green.
Vegetable farming success shines for Raghavan and Karunakaran in Kerala, as their hard work turns fields and lives green.
Periye: As the Onam markets are gradually coming alive in the state, unbridled joy shines through the hearts of Athikkal Veetil K V Raghavan and Velaswaram V Karunakaran, both natives of Makkiyil in Ravaneswaram. The source of their happiness becomes evident the moment one steps into their lush vegetable farm at Kunnupara near Ravaneeswaram.
Spread across seven acres of leased land, the duo has cultivated a rich variety of crops including ladies’ finger, melon, cucumber, banana and more with all ripening just in time for the festive season. Their routine is as disciplined as it is demanding: each day begins at 4 AM with a ride on Raghavan’s scooter to the farm and ends only at dusk. Now aged 60 and 64, respectively, Raghavan and Karunakaran devote nearly 15 hours a day to nurturing their fields, which has now become their livelihood
Before turning to farming, both men worked as labourers in a laterite stone quarry. Five years ago, they decided to lease a plot of land and take up vegetable cultivation. They haven’t looked back since. Not once has farming brought them loss, they testify. Apart from vegetables, they also grow paddy and sweet potatoes.
Right now, cucumber is their star crop. With demand soaring ahead of the Onam season, they are harvesting around two and a half quintals daily. The produce is sold at the VFPCK outlet in Mavungal and at a supermarket in Athinjal.
The vegetables they planted in June and July are now almost ready for harvest. Once this round of harvesting is over, the farmers usually shift to another site with water availability to begin a fresh cycle of cultivation.
Raghavan lives with his wife, Sathyamala and their four children, namely Reshma, Ramya, Rajitha and Sharath Raj. Karunakaran’s family includes his wife, Malini and their sons Shanil Kumar, who works with the Kottacherry Cooperative Society and Shahul, who serves in the Army.
Looking over their lush green fields, the duo agrees on one thing; just as their land flourishes with crops, it is their hard work and dedication to farming that has turned their lives equally green.