Agriculture

It all began two years ago when the Pallipuram Service Co-operative Bank (PSCB) decided to launch a pilot aquaponics project with the sole objective of helping farmers grow chemical-free food.

Run by a Kerala teacher-student duo, Shijin V S and Amal Mathew, both electrical engineers, Ela Sustainable Solutions helps urban farmers set up hydroponic farming systems and mini-polyhouses in spaces as small as 100 sq ft!

25 years ago, when this young teenager with no degree made the journey from England to Tamil Nadu, he hardly had an idea about how life-altering the decision would be.

Interestingly, neem tree is a storehouse of so many useful chemicals that it is popularly called the ‘Village Pharmacy’ of South Asia!

As Harvard scientists and even school children are developing new, innovative methods to utilise this wonder grass, farmers in Tamil Nadu have started its cultivation for large profit margins.

From an annual turnover of Rs 2 lakh in the first year to now making a monthly turnover of Rs 30 lakh, the duo’s successful journey inspired many.

Anju's garden is full of surprises and each day, she eagerly awaits what the plants have in store for them!

Polyhouse farming refers to a controlled and protected method of farming inside a structure, where a variety of flowers and/or vegetables are grown.

A native of Adirangam village in the Tiruvarur district, Jayaraman was a class 8 dropout who began his work as a conservationist in 2004.

The farmers who previously earned Rs 25,000 a month, started earning double the amount, almost Rs 5 lakh a year!