Thalipparamba: K Rajeesh, a farmer who cultivates vegetables in harmony with the soil and the seasons, is now busy taking his fresh harvest to the Onam market. The produce from his seven-acre farm, located on the valley of a hill near Keezhatoor, is in huge demand across the festive markets. This season alone, Rajeesh has brought nearly 10 tonnes of vegetables to meet the Onam rush.

He mainly grows cucumber, bitter gourd, snake gourd, pumpkin, ash gourd and ladies’ finger. A hands-on farmer, Rajeesh harvests his crops himself and even transports them to the market in his own jeep.

About 25 years ago, this land was overrun by wild bushes when Rajeesh took it up for cultivation. Since then, he has depended largely on rainfall for farming. With the arrival of the first summer showers, he ploughs the land using a tiller and cultivates vegetables four times a year. Rajeesh has set farming calendar is well in tune with Kerala’s festive seasons; vegetables for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, winter crops, kani vellari (golden cucumber) for Vishu and finally, a fresh harvest for the Onam markets.

Over the years, Rajeesh has received strong support from the local Agricultural Office and its officials. Soil testing is carried out with their help before applying manure. While he largely relies on organic manure, he also uses pheromone traps, fungicides, pseudomonas and tricoderma for pest control.

One of the biggest challenges faced by Rajeesh has been the threat of wild boars. To tackle this, he has fenced the entire farm with nets. Crops like ash gourd and cucumber, which are especially vulnerable, are given additional protective fencing. Rajeesh spends his entire day, from 6 AM until late evening, working in the fields, often joined by his siblings.

The vegetables he cultivates are supplied to the Thalipparamba market, Horticorp outlets, cooperative societies and local shops. Once this Onam season ends, Rajeesh will move to another plot to prepare for the next crop cycle.