Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Sep 12: The joy of indulging in agriculture is unique. The sight of a grain sprouting and becoming a sapling, and then slowly breaking into tender shoots of corn which get harder with passage of time, gives the grower a sense of satisfaction and succour.

Agriculture brings joy, contentment and a feeling of freshness which no other activity can provide. Peoplel who are born and brought up in families of agriculturists find it very hard to part with farming activity. Sanjeeva Poojary, director of Vandse Agricultural Service Cooperative Society and former president of Vandse gram panchayat, has become cynosure of all eyes in his village because of his successful experiment of transforming his courtyard into a paddy field.

The courtyard in Poojary's house on Vandse school road is spread over four cents of land. Poojary suddenly got an idea of growing paddy in his courtyard. He then levelled the courtyard that was elevated and readied the land for agriculture by plowing it. He then planted paddy seedlings of MO-4 variety in a unique manner. Having special interst in agriculture, he took care of this field with lot of interest. The paddy field in his courtyard is now full of wavy paddy plants which are ready to hold ears of paddy corn. People moving on the adjacent road now are compelled to have a look at this impressive green field, and appreciate it.

"This activity does not bring any profit. But it adds to the image of the house and brings a sense of contentment and happiness. People find it hard to get bunches of ears of paddy corn for customary celebration of 'Hostu' festival that is normally celebrated during Navaratri with freshly harvested paddy grains. During this festival, my paddy plants can be of help to people," Poojary says. He stands as a role model for many farmers having large agricultural fields which they have opted to leave uncultivated and go barren.