Six friends - Padmavathi T P, Bhanumathi E, Malathi K, Sarada K, Latha K and Karthyayani Amma - are in a pall of gloom as it was the last day of their three month long farming activity on the twenty cent farm land of Rajan Master in Kozhikode on Thursday, at least for this year. Growing vegetables every year has been a 15 year old practice for them. This year the team has grown pumpkin, cucumber, ash gourd and ladies finger.
“It is a joyous activity for us to grow vegetables in the three months starting from February. Every year we feel that all of us will not make it for the activity next year. But when the February comes, we are here farming. This has become a part of our lives,” says Padmavathi.
Karthyayani Amma is the eldest in the group. She is seventy-eight-years-old. “Though Karthyayani Amma is at an advanced age, she is the most active member in our group,” remarks Sarada.
Karthyayani Amma feels that this would probably be her final appearance on this green field. “Age has caught up with me and I feel like taking rest all the time now. But as always, I am not sure about this decision which is the same for the past several years,” says Karthyayani Amma.
The youngest member Latha is very busy at home with her little children, aged seven and one. But it has never been an obstacle for her to carry on with her seasonal farming. “I joined the team seven years back, soon after my marriage. I always find time to cultivate vegetables here with the ladies,” she said.
The vegetables are taken back to the respective houses. “If there is more quantity, we sell it off to the shop or give it to other families,” said Latha.
Bhanumathi is the latest member in the team. She joined four years back as she was outside Kerala with her husband till then.
“Agriculture is rooted in our culture. It is a great pleasure when we cook these vegetables. We use no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The only manure we use are cow dung and oil cake. This activity displays a culture of unity, love and care amongst each of us,” said an elated Bhanumathi while she plucked the last ash gourd from the field.