Little Riya Does Not Play With Toys But Loves Doing Organic Farming

August 03 2021

8th standard Rhea Jos is making a difference by reaping her yield from soil while her peer groups spend their time on mobiles and computers. Rhea started organic farming at the age of 6 and her mother Roopa Jos extended all necessary support she needed for this venture. Rhea stands tall with her story away from the hustle- bustle of city life and her academic schedules. This mother and daughter duo who cultivate their own fruits and vegetables has set an example for all of us.

Rhea, daughter of Roopa Jos and Cheriyathara Jimmy Jos, from Kakkanad of Ernakulam district was born and brought up in Kolkata. The organic farming idea sparkled after the family shifted to Kerala and came across the toxin-filled vegetables bought from market. It was Rhea herself who came up with this idea of cultivating her own and she started with a barren land situated close to her home. Rhea does everything from plowing up wasteland, planting crops and applying fertilizers and her mom extends every support possible from her side. This little farmer faced many problems during the initial days of her farming. Roopa encouraged and helped learn about crops, proper crop management, plant fertilizers, and also about different farming methods. Farming interest of Rhea’s sister, Raina Jos, a 12th class student is no less and Raina manages her farming on holidays due to the hectic academic works.

Monsoon does not mean holidays for Farmers

There is a popular proverb that says Hard after Karkkidakam (Malayalam monsoon month). Monsoon is a kind of holiday for all farmers but she never took any vacation during monsoons. Presence of rain cover helps her to continue her farming uninterrupted. Many vegetables including lady finger are chilly and flourishing in Rhea’s farm while it rains cats and dogs outside. Crops are protected from rain with aid of waste plastic covers.

In addition, Rhea protects the crop by folding the top of the grow bag inwards and placing the coconut shell as weight. Planting something new is Rhea’s hobby. A small backyard and terrace is amazingly utilized by this mother - daughter duo and they set examples for those who do not cultivate despite having land and those who complain of not having enough land. Over 150 grown bags are utilized for farming on the terrace. Meanwhile, large pots and cans are also used for the same.

A farming system challenging Kerala’s climate

Rhea is more interested in growing spinach. Rhea has a large collection of spinach. Amaranthus pink beauty, Chekur manis (Sauropus androgynus), Palak, Sambar cheera or Water leaf, Agathi cheera (Sesbania grandiflora), red and green spinaches,  peacock feather-spinach, chayamansa, Spanish spinach, ponnari veeran spinach, red and green spinaches enrich Rhea’s garden. Six varieties of ladyfinger, three varieties of tomatoes, five varieties of eggplant, plantain, zucchini, peach, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, perennial eggplant, ridge gourd, ivy gourd, snake gourd, ash gourd, cucumber, various varieties of chillies such as Edayur, Mali, Nagamichi, Bajimulak, Thondanvilak, Kantari, etc. add to the richness of this farm. Rhea grows her cabbage, cauliflower, beet, carrot and broccoli in defiance of the climate of Kerala. This smart girl could also grow passion fruit, dragon fruit, lemon wine, sapodilla, custard apple, a variety of oranges, mango and jackfruit in her garden. 

Grapes are the roots of happiness

Grapes are less cultivated in Kerala but Rhea withstood this challenge through her grape yield and she shares that June is the best month for Grape cultivation. Organic fertilizers are applied weekly for grapes. Dried neem cake, cow dung, Peanut cake fermented and diluted in water, wastewater from cleaning fish and meat etc. are used for nourishing the grapes. This little farmer notes that grapes need a good amount of sunlight to grow well.

Changes brought in life by farming

Rhea’s parents are her supporting pillars in this. Not only mom, Rhea’s dad also does farming by  helping her with ploughing the soil. New farming techniques are learnt and fertilizers are prepared by the mom and daughter together. She is excellent in her studies and all farming is done during her leisure times. This little champ excitedly encourages her friends towards agriculture and Roopa says that farming is helping her daughter to be more patient, confident and  empathetic towards all. Undoubtedly, this mom- daughter duo sets a green example for all of us to follow.

This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds

Source: Krishi Jagran