Shortly after undergoing angioplasty, Sreekumar was advised by his doctor to walk for at least an hour every day. But instead of simply following that routine, he thought, why not turn the walk into something productive? Farming, he realised, could serve as both exercise and a source of income. That decision soon led to the birth of his own brand of plantain leaves.

Today, Sreekumar of Chunakkara Madam, along with his friend and ex-serviceman MS Dileepkumar from Karakkad, cultivates plantains exclusively for their leaves on two-and-a-half acres of land. Nearly 1,000 fresh plantain leaves reach the market every day under their brand name Green Plate. Their regular clients include hotels and catering firms across Chengannoor, Mavelikkara, and Pandalam.

Sreekumar first discovered the potential of the plantain leaf business through social media. His brother, MK Rajmohan, and sister, P Indu — both retired deputy directors from the agriculture department — offered technical guidance and support. When Dileepkumar joined him, the partnership grew into a friendship rooted in shared effort and enthusiasm. What began as a modest 50-cent plot just a year and a half ago has now expanded to 2.5 acres.

According to Sreekumar, cultivating plantains for their leaves is less labour-intensive and more profitable than growing them for bananas. The variety they grow is Njali Poovan. Three saplings are planted in a pit measuring three feet deep and two feet wide — an efficient system that allows three plants to thrive with the same amount of water and fertiliser used for one. Leaves can be harvested from the second month onward, with new leaves sprouting every five days. The yield continues until the eighth month, when the plant begins to bear fruit. At that stage, the plant is cut along with the bunch, while new shoots already sprout from the pit. The beauty of this method, Sreekumar says, is that planting needs to be done only once.

Every 45 days, about 100 grams of urea is added to each pit, and watering is essential during the summer months. Both Sreekumar and Dileepkumar dedicate two hours each — morning and evening — to harvest and packaging. Bundles of 100 leaves are neatly packed, labelled with Green Plate stickers, and delivered directly to customers. Each leaf, carefully cut to maximise usable portions, is sold for Rs 4.50.

Sreekumar believes this model offers farmers a steady and sustainable income. Up to 1,000 plantains can be grown in just 50 cents of land. His only disappointment, however, is that despite being a novel and successful farming initiative, he has received no support from the agriculture department.