Sankunni remembers a time when he stood before his local agricultural officer, deeply anxious about where he would sell his harvest. Today, the 64-year-old farmer from Padyam Puthiyatheru in Kannur happily admits he cannot grow enough vegetables to keep up with the soaring demand. From his mobile vending shop in Padyam Ottachimakkool, customers from far and wide queue up daily to buy fresh, chemical-free produce. For Sankunni, there is no profession more lucrative than agriculture, provided you master the art of direct marketing.

The transition from the Gulf to the green fields
Sankunni’s journey into full-time farming began in 2006, after spending 22 years working in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Long before he flew to the Middle East, agriculture had been his family's livelihood. Growing up under the guidance of his parents, Gopalan and Madhavi, he learned the fundamentals of farming early in life. When he decided to pack his bags and return to Kerala for good, he knew exactly what his next chapter would be. Today, he manages six acres of land, of which 1.5 acres are self-owned, cultivating bananas, vegetables, watermelons, and tubers.

A smart calendar for year-round yield
Sankunni's success lies in his clever, non-repetitive crop rotation strategy. He ensures that his land is never idle. Once the monsoon vegetable harvest is complete, he immediately sows red spinach, which requires very little additional manure and is ready for harvest within a month. Following this, he transitions to watermelon cultivation, focusing on the popular Kiran variety. By spacing out his planting schedule, he avoids the risk of a market glut and ensures a steady supply. In his last cycle, he harvested an impressive 19 quintals from an 80-cent plot, selling the fruit at an attractive rate of ₹40 per kilogram. This is closely followed by winter vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots, before embarking on summer vegetable cultivation from December through to mid-May.

Targeting the festival market
Bananas and tuber crops provide another lucrative stream of income for Sankunni, who currently tends to 1,200 banana plants. He strategically times his Nendran banana cultivation to target the high-demand festive seasons of Onam and Vishu. Tapioca cultivation has also proven highly profitable, alongside side ventures like bee-keeping and fish farming. Throughout this journey, Aswathy, the Padyam Agricultural Officer, has been a key source of technical guidance and support.

Cutting out the middlemen with a family-run store
As his harvests grew, finding the right market became a challenge. To solve this, the Kuthuparamba Block Panchayat sanctioned a mobile vending shop. Rather than driving around to sell, Sankunni decided to park the mobile shop permanently at Padyam Ottachimakkool. Managed daily by his wife, K Sanitha, with assistance from their college-going son, Devak, the shop runs from 7 am to 8 pm. It stocks fresh, organic produce from both Sankunni's farm and neighbouring local growers, drawing loyal health-conscious buyers from across the region who bypass standard markets to buy directly from the family.