Agriculture

From delivering fresh chemical-free greens to resorts and even at the doorsteps of customers in South Delhi and Gurugram, Red Otter Farms is one of India’s earliest and fastest-growing aquaponic farms.

The inspiration came from a few organic farmers that Kshitij and his wife, Neelam Kumari interacted with some years ago.

For Rakesh, this method of farming was as good as finding a genie! From the profits earned in the very first year itself, he hired 20 labourers. Today, besides providing them with food and accommodation, he sponsors the education of their children.

“As consumers, we are not often aware of our purchase decisions and their impact on farmers and workers down the production chain. If we were aware of the ground realities, then we would not take a decision knowingly to support exploitative production methods.”

Eramalloor native Shije Varghese has been growing mushrooms since 2007 and has turned it to a fruitful venture.

It is completely fine if you have no prior knowledge in farming; these folks will not only run you through the basics but also guide you along the journey.

The 1990s saw a drastic shift of the villagers from farming to other professions. Farming yielded low profits, groundwater levels were severely depleted, and the pH value of the water was considered unsuitable even for drinking purposes.

Bhavya grows palak (spinach), methi (fenugreek), coriander and amaranthus, month-on-month in rotation, and harvests close to 400 kgs every month. All these vegetables are grown using organic methods.

Of all the crops Kishore Chandra has cultivated, the demand for browntop millet is fetching him almost triple the amount of what he was earning until last season.

Love for agriculture brought the destinies of Vani and Vijith together, and they decided to start their married life as an ode to that shared passion over a decade ago.