Techie turned farmer: Kerala youth's marigold magic brightens Onam season

Kanhangad: Rahul Raveendran, a web developer who is also an aspiring farmer, is adding vibrant hues to the Onam festival this year with his blooming marigolds. On his 1.5-acre plot, orange and yellow marigolds are flourishing, and Rahul is preparing to sell them at the Onam market.

Rahul, who is 30-years-old, lives in Kalichanadukkam with his parents- Raveendran, a toddy worker, and Valsala, a tailor. He manages nine and a half acres of leased land near his home for various types of cultivation, including vegetables and fruits.

Rahul holds a BSc in Electronics and works as a web developer for a company in Kottayam. Since switching to work from home after the pandemic, he has used his extra time to explore agriculture. Each morning, he helps his father tap rubber from their rubber trees, and he also grows a range of fruits and vegetables, from pulses and bitter gourds to watermelons.

This is Rahul's third year cultivating marigolds. His first year saw a loss of Rs 20,000, but last year he turned a profit of Rs 25,000. He planted 1,000 marigold plants each year, and this year he has increased the number to 3,000, purchasing the plants from Thrissur at Rs 8 each.

Last Onam year, Rahul sold 170 kg of marigolds and expects to sell over 600 kg this year. He anticipates a wholesale price of Rs 80 per kg and a retail price of Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg.

To combat soil erosion and other issues, Rahul has employed special techniques to protect his crops, ensuring that even with heavy rains, his marigold cultivation remains unaffected. He balances his time between his company job, which runs from 10 am to 4 pm, and additional work in the evenings. Farming is done during the available free time.