A local brand of organic rice named after a farmer’s grandfather and promoted by a political leader. But there is more to ‘TK Kathir’ than just that.
Grown by T.D. Robert, a relatively newly converted paddy farmer of Kanjoor village, the brand was much sought after at the recently concluded organic Onam Mela organised by the Jaiva Jeevitham farming collective at Rajendra Maidan.
“TK stands for Thekkekara Kunjuvareeth, my grandfather and a reputed farmer. The name ‘Kathir’ is in honour of an erstwhile rice variety,” says Robert, who was drawn to paddy cultivation by CPI(M) district secretary P. Rajeev a few years ago. The sack containing the rice identifies Rajeev as the brand’s goodwill ambassador.
Robert was a nutmeg farmer who strayed into organic paddy cultivation about six years ago, beginning it on 20 cents. “Subsequently, the Karshaka Sanghom lent me support, and with training in organic farming practices, I started expanding it on leased land,” he says.
Last season, Robert cultivated paddy over 36 acres and harvested around 40 tonnes, with a 1,200 kg yield from each acre. “It is processed retaining nearly 40% of bran. The plan is to expand cultivation to over 54 acres in the coming season as there is a steady demand, primarily from cooperative societies such as the Edappally Service Cooperative Bank’s farm outlet,” he adds.
For manure, Robert also uses waste water from the one-acre fish farm he tends, together with a friend. “I make it a point to strictly adhere to organic farming methods which give me a great deal of satisfaction,” he says.
But there is an issue which, he hopes, will be resolved soon. “Each seasonal cultivation demands an expenditure of around ₹15 lakh, but I only get an interest-free loan of ₹2 lakh from the Kanjoor Service Cooperative Bank for six months. Given that I am to pay a heavy interest for the remainder of the sum and that the entire money can only be recouped over a year, there is this desire to have a better loan free of interest to support farming. The Edappally bank, however, has been helpful as it pays me in advance for the rice,” says Robert, who is a member of the choir of St. Mary’s Church at Kanjoor.
