Students learn about farmers and hard work

Students of the modern age have raised eyebrows of many by carrying out agricultural activities to get a learning experience and also to serve a genuine cause.

A team of 100 students from Vidyarathna High School, Deralakatte, chose a paddy field that had been left fallow for years, for the endeavour. They have decided to cultivate paddy and distribute the rice to orphans’ homes and paddy sheaths as fodder to cattle.

The students transplanted paddy in a field in Bhandarabailu, Munnur village, on Friday. Their spirit was undaunted even though their dresses got soiled. Agricultural labourers guided the students in their field work.

Most of the students were from urban areas and had not seen agricultural activities from nearby. Their curiosity, however, made them learn the transplantation work in an interesting way. The students said that they now know the efforts that are put into the production food.

School president Ravindra Shetty Ulidottu who had been the inspiration behind the activities, said that the effort was a way to enlighten the students on agriculture. The endeavour also serves as a medium of social commitment. The paddy crop that would be ready for harvest will be reaped by students themselves in the harvesting season. Rice will then be extracted from paddy. The paddy sheaths will go the Govanithashraya in Pajeer for cattle and the rice to the orphanages, he said. He further thanked the family members of late Ramaiah Naik, the owner of the paddy field.

Teacher Bharathi said, “I had no knowledge on transplanting paddy seedlings or harvesting paddy. It was a new experience for me as well. I have understood the hard work of the farmers who toil from morning till evening.”

Student Vaishali said, “We (the students) have understood the value of hard work of a farmer. The experience has also taught us not to waste food.”

Ibrahim, another student, said “So far I had only read about the hard work rendered by farmers to feed us. Now, I have experienced it by entering the paddy field and engaging in paddy transplantation activities.”

Rathna Education Trust secretary Sowmya R Shetty, school headmaster Nayeem Hamid, Munnur Panchayat president Roopa Shetty and APMC vice president Muttu N Shetty were present.