Unlikely collective revives fallow land, scripts paddy farming success story in Alappuzha

Diverse group in Vallikunnam unites for successful paddy cultivation, aiming to launch their own rice brand.

What unites a police sub-inspector, a higher secondary school teacher, a retired engineer, an ex-serviceman and a few businessmen at Vallikunnam in Alappuzha? A shared passion for agriculture. This unlikely collective has scripted a success story in paddy cultivation by transforming large tracts of fallow land at Cheruppallam paddy polder, proving that farming flourishes where passion and perseverance take root.

The group, consisting of nine members aged between 45 and 81, began paddy farming on an experimental basis on five acres of land owned by its members in 2023-24 season. Their initial harvest yielded 12.5 tonnes, boosting their confidence to expand cultivation to another 20 acres leased for the 2024-25 season. On Friday and Saturday, combine harvesters entered the fields, bringing in a bountiful harvest.

“Of the total 25 acres, harvesting has been completed in 22 acres. Though the exact yield has not been calculated yet, it is a good harvest. Rest three acres will be harvested later,” says C.K. Ajithkumar, a retired Devaswom Board engineer and a member of the group.

Though none of them had prior farming experience, Mr. Ajithkumar says the sight of once-thriving fields – cultivated by their parents and responsible for feeding families – lying fallow inspired them to revive cultivation. “Our love for the soil and farming brought us together. We want to set an example for the younger generation,” he says.

The other members of the group are G. Rajeev (sub-inspector), P. Mahesh (HSS teacher), K. Ramachandran Pillai (retired teacher), M. Shamsudeen Kunju (ex-serviceman), M. Parameswaran Pillai (Gulf returnee), J. Vishwanathan (business), R. Latha (homemaker) and S. Suresh (business). They are all members of Vallikunnam South Padasekhara Nellulpadhaka Samithi.

“It has been a great experience. Farming brings a lot of happiness,” says Mr. Rajeev, a sub-inspector at Vallikunnam police station.

This season, the group cultivated Uma and Onam rice varieties. Earlier, a wild boar attack destroyed paddy on a few acres, but the crop was later replanted. The harvested paddy is sold to Supplyco.