It is often said that there are two types of farmers -one who adheres to the traditional ways and the other who experiments with new methods and techniques by avoiding the old ones. But, Palakkad Eluppulli native P Ramachandran has chosen the middle path by equally embracing the traditional farming methods and modern techniques to reap success. For Ramachandran, farming is also a business enterprise that ensures him amazing profits throughout the year. 

Ramachandran does integrated farming in his organic farmland called Araya Farm that sprawls in 3.5 acres. He resorts to modern irrigation techniques like deep watering to ensure good yield. Coconut, areca nut and paddy are the main crops while turmeric, ginger, pepper and vegetables are grown as integrated crops. Besides, chickens, ducks and livestock too could be found here to ensure the availability of organic manure. The organic waste from the farm is used as feed for the carp fish farming. These are some of the common methods that are followed in most integrated farms, but what makes Ramachandran stand out is his ability to make integrated farming financially viable and profitable. 

Ramachandran produces and sells more than 30 value added products. Most of the coconuts are turned into fresh coconut oil. Instead of regular paddy varieties, he grows herbal grains that have medicinal properties and sell them for hefty price. From cherry tomatoes to bitter gourds, the vegetables are turned into dried vattals and kondattam (crisps). Even the spices are sold after turning them into a value-added product. Six products that come out of Ramachandran’s farm are sold under the agriculture department’s Keralagrow brand. Smartly incorporating modern machinery and equipment into traditional farming methods is also a major factor that contributes to Ramachandran’s success. He owns transplanter, tiller, tractor and many other modern machineries that are rented out to other farmers. 

Value addition from organic farming
Ramachandran grows paddy in two acres out of the 3.5 acres of land. Earlier, he grew the iconic Palakkadan matta rice, but now he has switched to the medicinal varieties. Medicinal paddies like thooyamalli, karuppu kavuni, arupatham kuravai and athoorkichadi samba are cultivated here in two farming seasons. Arupatham kuruvai that could be harvested in just under 60 days is perfect for drought areas. Although the harvest is less than a tonne for each variety, the shortage of production is overcome by the incredible market price. The medicinal paddies are sold as packets of one and two kilos. Some of them even fetches ₹160 – 360 per kilos, making them lucrative crops. The crops grown at Ramachandran’s farm enjoy high demand as the farm has been certified organic.

However, the medicinal paddies do not enjoy high demand in the regular markets. His regular customers are the ones who know about the incredible medicinal benefits of such paddies and also have the purchasing power to get them at high prices.

So, reaching out to such customers is as important as producing the medicinal paddy varieties. Ramachandran reminds that farmers who turn to growing unique paddy varieties with medicinal properties should also try to find market for their products. 

West Coast Toll and Aliyar Nadan are the main varieties of coconut trees here. Ramachandran uses organic manure and proper watering methods to nurture more than 200 coconut trees in his farm. Around 150 coconuts are harvested from each tree in a year. The coconut farmers had earned good profits as the price of coconuts skyrocketed this year. However, Ramachandran was able to double his profits by selling the value-added products too. He sold more than 1000 kilos of coconut oil made from the fresh copra from his coconut farm, earning him over ₹4 lakh. 

Turmeric is grown as an integrated crop between the rows of coconut trees. He grows the Salem variety that gives excellent yield. He sells dried and powdered turmeric for an impressive price. Besides, more than 500 areca nuts of Kasargod and Mohit Nagar varieties too are grown at Ramachandran’s farm. He earns around ₹2 lakh annually by selling products from these trees. 150 vines of Karimunda pepper, that promises amazing yield, is also a main source of income. Plantain varieties like nenthran, karoor poovan and najli poovan are grown as inter crops. Besides, ginger, vegetables and small grains also fetch good price at the market. Vegetables are grown in rows between coconut trees and areca nut trees by paving mulching sheets.

Deep irrigation facilities have been arranged for all the crops including coconut trees and areca nuts. An organic fence made using fragrant and herbal plants like sheema konna (gilricidia sepium), karinochi (vitex negundo), chrysanthemum and chendu malli (Clerodendrum philippinum) is a unique feature of this farm. The leaves of gilricidia sepium is also used as manure for the crops. Meanwhile, practitioners of herbal medicine purchase the leaves of karinochi that have many amazing health benefits. Moreover, the chendu malli fencing plays a pivotal role in luring friendly worms and eliminating termites and worms that destroy the crops. 

Zero budget fish farming
2000 carp fishes are caught annually from the pond in Ramachandran’s farm. The organic waste from the farm is provided as feed for the cutla, rohu and mrigal fishes. These fishes feeding on organic waste gains weight up to a kilo in a year. Ramachandran sells these fishes for ₹150 per kilo earning him decent profits. Meanwhile, he is able to sell homegrown fish worth ₹1 lakh in a year. The cages of chickens, ducks and rabbits are built above the fish pond as their droppings are excellent manure for planktons. The nutrient-rich water from the pond is also used to water the crops. Ramachandran’s 3.5 acres of farmland is an excellent example for lucrative integrative farming methods. All the crops are interrelated while each crop is ensured enough sunlight and other factors required for individual growth. Ramachandran’s methods prove that it wouldn’t be wise to depend on single crop farming in the future. 

Meanwhile, this farm is also a spot where the agriculture department’s Kera and Farm Plan projects have been successfully implemented. Besides, various farming experiments by the agriculture university too takes place here. Ramachandran says that Elappully Krishi bhavan has been extremely supportive. His wife Kalpana and kids help him in the farm and also in the production of the value-added products.  Phone – 9388458685

Smart machinery
From tractors and tillers to harvesting machines, Ramachandran owns most of the modern machinery and equipment that are required for farming. He is an expert in handling such machinery and also rent them out to other farmers. Besides growing paddy in his own field, Ramachandran operates these machinery and equipment in around 600 acres of field in other places. He is able to earn more than ₹10 lakh annually like this. Ramachandran has also found a place in the innovative farmers list by developing a low-cost machine for cleaning the harvested turmeric.