Want to stroll via a sunflower field and click on selfies? Head to St Xavier’s College, Thumba, in Thiruvananthapuram the place the crops are in full bloom on six acres contained in the campus.
This is an initiative of agripreneur SV Sujith, who operates the agri startup, Naaden, on a 22-acre leased plot inside the school. The flowers are on show as a part of Aaravam 2025, an agri-flower present organised by Naaden.
“I had planted sunflower successfully here earlier as well but that was only out of personal interest. This is the first time I have done it on a commercial basis,” says Sujith, the recipient of Kerala State Farm Awards 2022 for the very best vegetable farm.
Like all of the crops on the farm, Sujith has grown the flowers additionally on sandy soil via open-precision farming. “There are 72 beds here, each with 266 plants. In precision farming you have to know the exact number of crops,” he says.
Sujith provides that the crops flowered sooner than he anticipated. “Due to climatic changes they bloomed early and so we didn’t get enough time to make preparation to open it for the public. However, things are on track now,” he provides.
Also on present are marigold varieties in yellow and orange, cock’s comb (kozhipoo) and Bachelors’ button (vadamalli). “We used to grow marigolds as barrier crops to prevent attack of pests. Once I realised its commercial value we started cultivating it,” he says.
SV Sujith
| Photo Credit:
SREEJITH R KUMAR
Sujith stresses that the pageant is an try and introduce his farm and its actions to the folks. “We want people to understand what we do and why we do it. Naaden is in its fourth year now and my intension is to spread one message – know your food,” he says.
Public can even see a paddy field, water wheel, completely different farming tools, instruments, demonstration on irrigating the crops, cultivation of varied greens and many others. As per an MoU he signed with St Xavier’s College, college students of the school have been doing paid internship on the farm. “Over 25 students have worked here in four batches since we launched it,” he says.
The pageant is on until September 15, 6am to 6pm. Entry charge is ₹40 for adults and ₹20 for youngsters.
