: At 63, Terrace Farmer Harvests 20 Kg of Veggies Daily Using 400 Grow Bags #IndiaNEWS #Agriculture Returning to his homeland from Bengaluru after retirement, Thodupuzha-native Punnoose Jacob wanted

At 63, Terrace Farmer Harvests 20 Kg of Veggies Daily Using 400 Grow Bags #IndiaNEWS #Agriculture
Returning to his homeland from Bengaluru after retirement, Thodupuzha-native Punnoose Jacob wanted to pursue farming as a hobby. His family based in Idukki has a background in agriculture and the sexagenarian wanted to give it a try too.

But the unavailability of land was a challenge for him to start large-scale farming. So, he decided to take it slow and picked vegetable cultivation on a terrace.

“There is a three-storeyed building we have rented out just opposite my house. It has a wide 3,500 square feet terrace where I chose to farm. I’m a perfectionist so everything was set up neatly, even though the garden was small at first,??? says the 63-year-old gardener.

Punnoose initially planted vegetable seeds in a few grow bags. Tomato, chilli, brinjal, okra and cucumber were some of them. Within two years, the number of grow bags and vegetable varieties expanded. He installed a drip irrigation system so that the watering process became easier. All the grow bags are placed on iron stands of 1. 5 feet in height. Clay roof tiles are placed below each bag so that extra mixture is sucked by them.

Six years ago, Punnoose even put together a shed on the terrace which keeps the plants safe from extreme rain and sunlight. “The shed was set up after receiving a subsidy from the agricultural department,??? he adds.

Punnooses lush terrace garden.

Today the gardener grows vegetables like zucchini and cauliflower and sells them under a brand called ‘Mangalam Foodp?&H??H?^Y?X?K?8?']??H^K[?]??Y?H??L?H???Y?]X???H???Y???H^H??X?K?]?X??Y[?Z?[??H?X??X??[?Y??YH??X??]??H^H?H???]?][????8?????H??[??????????^HX??]YB????[?????H?Y]?H?H???[?X???[???[??X?Y?????X????8?'H?H??[?X????H[???[Z[???HXZ????[???HZ^?YY[?H?^Y]X[?]H]??H?YZ?H]?H??YH????H?[YH???Z??[?H^K8??H???????H??????H?H?X?YHXYH???H?????H?H?X?Y??[Y?[?H???8?'?????XZ[?H???[??Z??[??H]?HH?]??[????]??????X?YH????Y???Z[??[????[??H?[Y?]?[]Y[??]?[???^YY?HX]???H[??[?Y??]X????H???K?Y]?????[??[?K??]][????H???HZ?[??[H??X?[??H?????8??H??????????H?????[??[[??][Y????????????HH???????X?K[?????H?????Y??Y?]X??Z?H??H?????]?????[??Z?H????[???YH??[??