Kerala's coastal sunflower field, interspersed with organic veggies, goes viral

If you are on the lookout for floral springs in Kerala this Onam, here is a perfect, lesser-known spot for you. A young farmer from Thiruvananthapuram's Karakulam, Sujit SV, has transformed six acres within the St. Xavier’s College premises at Thumba into a dazzling sunflower spring. Nearly 30,000 blooms, swaying on the fine coastal sands, have spread a silky yellow wonder across his fields, their bright, high-voltage smiles now going viral on social media.

Many expressed doubts about whether sunflowers would bloom in the coastal region of Thumba. However, Sujit's hard work paid off, and to celebrate the achievement, a festival named Aaravam 2025 is taking place at the spot until September 15. Besides sunflowers, nearly 20,000 chrysanthemum blooms add to the vibrant spectacle of Sujith’s fields. Among them are African chrysanthemums and the rare French chrysanthemum, considered a VVIP in the world of flowers.

Safe-to-eat vegetables
Sujith’s farm is not just about flowers. Over 30 varieties of vegetables grown here are being marketed under the `Safe to eat' label. In collaboration with St. Xavier’s College, he has also launched a farming internship project. For students of Arts and Science courses, a traditional farm setup has been created on the campus. Currently, six students are undertaking internships here, receiving stipends for their work.

Sujith believes that soil can be turned into gold if one is willing to take risks and approach farming professionally. Sujith's family comprises wife K S Sujitha, a software engineer at Technopark, elder son Arav, a Class 3 student and six-month-old twins Arnav and Aavani. Sujitha and Arav are also actively involved in the farm. Sujith is a recipient of the Hariha Mithra Award by the Department of Agriculture in 2022, recognising him as the Best Vegetable Farmer.