KOCHI: For 32-year-old Bibin George, hailing from Anakkampoyil, Kozhikode, farming is second to none. Toiling in the field from dawn to dusk, he shows the younger generation how wonderful it is to wear the tag of a farmer. This undying passion for agriculture is what made him the recipient of the Young Farmer Award instituted by the Junior Chamber International, Thiruvambadi chapter.
Bibin embarked on farming at a tender age following in the footsteps of his father Vazheparambil George, who had proved his hand at nutmeg cultivation. “After completing pre-degree course (PDC) I realised that education is not my cup of tea. My father also encouraged me to take up farming as my profession,” says Bibin.
The Vazheparambil family’s association with farming came to an end when his grandparents’ farming efforts went futile. Then it was his father George, who restarted farming by focusing on nutmeg and pepper.
Bibin’s leisure time during childhood days was spent at the farm with his father and he learnt the basics from here to enter the list of successful farmers.
When his father succeeded by embracing advancements in farming, Bibin tried both novel and traditional methods. “My elder son was studious and he now works as Regional Manager at the HDFC Bank in Chennai. Bibin’s interest was different. I did not force him to pursue higher education since selecting a profession is purely a personal choice. Now I realise that his decision was right,” says George.
He also tried his luck at dairy farming by launching a unit of 10 cows. The unit ran successfully in the initial stage but labour shortage has affected its smooth functioning. Though the number of cows was reduced to five, he has not withdrawn from dairy farming.
“If we are truly interested in something, whatever setbacks we face we will not feel a terrible sense of loss,” smiles Bibin, who is highly optimistic when it comes to farming and related activities. The Thiruvambadi grama panchayat honoured him by bestowing him with the Best Young Farmer Award in 2010.
Along with his father, he provides better quality nutmeg, ‘Malabar Sree’ breed which they have developed with the help of scientists with the Indian Institute of Spices Research(IISR), Kozhikode. Varieties like IISR Thevam, Malabar Excel, Sreekara, Virimunda, Panniyur 1, Sakthi, Panchami and Panniyur 4 are being developed in his nursery. Giving a ray of hope to farmers, arrangements are in place to introduce ‘Malabar Sree 61,’ another nutmeg variety developed by him recently.
Bibin is now busy with the construction of a hi-tech green nursery that is envisaged in such a way to make use of the available technologies. Once the construction of the nursery is completed, nutmeg cultivation will be shifted to it, so that the quality of the produce can be increased, he says. The enthusiastic farmer relies on the Krishi Vignan Kendra to get additional knowledge.