Tirunelveli, TAMIL NADU :

Tirunelveil  :

At a time when agricultural lands are turning into commercial housing plots, a youth has been silently transforming dry land into organic farming plots near Manur in the district.

Giving up his high salary job after working around nine years in West Asia, diploma holder N Sheik Abdullah (34) is busy now turning his integrated organic farm at Kalakudi village near Manur into a farm that grows watermelon, drum sticks and marigold.

“After completing a diploma in mechanical engineering, I worked in production arena in Erode and Coimbatore for around five years. Later, I took up the job of  a design engineer in the West Asia. With the support of my family members, I later purchased dry lands at Kalakudi village,” Abdullah said.

He returned from West Asia in March last year to launch into agricultural activities.

Hailing from Pettai in Tirunelveli city, he travels about 25 km to reach his farmland from his house daily.Step by step, he is turning the dry soil into one that is suitable for organic agriculture farming.

Abdullah said he has  plans to keep local breeds of cows, goats and chicken in the organic farm.

He has also planted local tree species of banyan, neem, pipul, fig, Poovarasu among others.

Abdullah, who considers organic farm expert Nammalvar as his role model, has undergone training at his organic farm ‘Vanagam’ in Karur district. He has cultivated paddy in the farm and plans expand it to more areas in his plot.

His idea is to produce healthy milk, egg and organic agriculture produces, which has no pesticides and chemicals.

Satisfied with the milk yield of local breeds of cattle,  the 34-year-old is also chalking out measures to save them.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by M. Abdul Rabi / March 03rd, 2016