Mathew Thomas, a student, started a buffalo farm during the lockdown

Mathew Thomas, pursuing his post-graduation, runs a farm with Murrah buffaloes at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district

At 23, Mathew Thomas is the proud owner of a farm. At Oonukal near Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district, Mathew runs Malayil Murrah Farm, where he rears Murrah buffaloes. A postgraduate student in Biotechnology at Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, Mathew hit upon the idea during the pandemic. “When classes went online last year, I had a lot of free time on my hands. I was getting restless and wanted to do something to keep myself occupied,” he says over the phone. That was when his father’s friend suggested a buffalo farm. “I decided to give it a try. I watched several videos and collected as much information as I could, especially about Murrah buffaloes,” he says.