Paddy in a pot
R. Raveendran of Kochulloor is having a field day. Back in 2011, he entered the Limca Book of Records for harvesting a giant yam weighing 275kg. And he’s just grown more successful with every passing year.
Raveendran is the only one in the area who grows paddy in flower pots on his 1,850sqft terrace “From 350sqft, I harvested 35kg of paddy. After reserving some for seed, I got 16-17kg of grains. I cultivate Uma, a variety that does not need much standing water. The remaining 1,500sqft is earmarked for vegetables,” he explains. For his Onasadya, he harvested a part of the paddy and gathered all the vegetables necessary from the terrace garden. He only had to buy buy cucumber and drumsticks; that too because the cucumber was planted early. “Ever since I started growing vegetables, we eat only what is seasonal and grown here. We have to buy onions and potatoes but beet, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower are all cultivated. These vegetables are planted in October. Beans, tomatoes, chillies and brinjal can be grown all year round. So our Onasadya in August had curries made of vegetables like beans, amaranthus, green chillies, tubers, different kinds of brinjals, lady’s fingers, tomatoes, ginger and bitter gourd.” Raveendran also cultivates different varieties of chillies, curry leaves, mint, lady’s finger and ginger in grow bags and pots.
Raveendran, who hails from an agricultural family, returned to his roots after a stint in the Gulf. “I did not want my children to eat pesticide-filled vegetables and fruits. I have been practising terrace cultivation from 1998. Since my father and my grandfather were farmers, I was familiar with farming methods. All I had to do was put those into practice on my terrace and perfect them through trial and error,” he says.
He also makes an organic manure called Hridayaamrutham from a mix of jaggery, cow dung, biodegradable waste and green leaves. Raveendran distributes this to people and charges them a nominal amount to buy ingredients to make the next batch. “I want people to make it at home but, if they can’t do it, I give them the mixture.”
However, the man with the green thumb is not resting on his achievements. He hopes to motivate others to set up their own terrace gardens and cultivate paddy too. “Facebook groups like Adukkala Thottam and Krishibhoomi turn to me for advice. I have given the members tips and information on seeds, growing methods, pesticide control, organic conversion of waste into manure… I also take classes for resident associations and colleges and schools. The agriculture department also invites me to take classes for wannabe farmers. I don’t charge a fee or ask for remuneration but sometimes the organisers offer a small fee. My real reward is the number of terrace farms that have come up in the city.”
Growing all he needs
He is a lawyer and an award-winning farmer. S. Sree Kumar grows an assortment of vegetables, flowers and fruits and also rears 25 quails and two hens — all in the750 sqft terrace of his home in Vanchiyoor. He has managed to harvest two types of tomatoes, different varieties of beans and amaranthus, cabbage, lady’s finger, chillies, bitter gourd, brinjal, curry leaves, coriander, mint, papaya, passion fruit, lemon, jasmine and zinnia.
“Every home should be self-sufficient; we should cultivate the vegetables we need. For the last 25 years, my wife Gayathri and I have been growing our own vegetables. I have also installed solar electricity at home and, with a biogas plant, all the kitchen waste is turned into slurry, manure and biogas for our garden and home. Vermicompost turns organic waste into manure and vermin wash. All paper is burnt in a small furnace I designed. So our household generates practically no waste,” says Sreekumar with missionary zeal. “In places where there is less sunlight, we cultivate Azolla in small tanks. This is ideal feed for the quails and hens. Earlier, I also had grass carp in the tank but now I don’t have fish and have also taken a break from mushroom cultivation.” The couple does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides and spends an hour in the morning and evening every day to look after their garden.
Green terrace
Ambika Remesh’s green thumb had always been the envy of her friends and neighbours. So when she heard of Raveendran’s experiment with paddy in a pot, she decided to try it out with his advice to guide her. Her family also pitched in to help her. The fruits of their labour are the golden sheaves of paddy on their terrace. “It is almost time to harvest it. From the 50 pots, we should get about 5 kg of rice,” says Gayathri Nair, Ambika’s daughter.
Media reports about use of harmful fungicides and pesticides motivated the family to grow their own food. Since they were already into terrace farming, all that had to be done was reserve a sunny space for the pots of paddy. Remeshan Nair, a former farm videographer with the department of agriculture, always encouraged his wife by helping her get the latest and best kinds of seeds and saplings for their home garden.
Once they are done with this harvest, the family is planning to expand the space for paddy.
Although Ambika is on a trip to Europe, the crop is well taken care of by Gayathri and her husband Muralikrishnan. “On every trip, no matter where she goes, my mother returns with some new plant or the other. Since we also have quite some space around the house, many fruit-bearing plants are planted there. In addition to veggies like tomatoes, chillies and brinjals on the terrace, we have different kinds of papaya, passion fruit, rose apple, mango and so in our garden,” says Gayathri.
No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used in their garden.
“Any one can cultivate vegetables and paddy. All that one needs is enthusiasm,” says Gayathri.
