Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 17: Likhit Salian is not a full-time farmer. He grows vegetables in a 15-cent land. After using the vegetables at his house, he sells vegetables worth Rs 500 per day on an average. He works in a company producing chemical fertilisers but uses only organic manure for his home garden. This is the success story of Likhit, who works for a shipping company located at Baikampady and also grows a garden near his home.

Likhit, who resides near Govinda Dasa College Surathkal, planned three years ago to raise a vegetable garden for his own satisfaction. Friends and most of his family members laughed at what they thought was a foolhardy idea. But even experienced farmers will be surprised at the way Likhit has raised his garden.

Likhit was inspired to grow vegetables by looking at Maxim Rodrigues, a farmer living near his home. He got involved actively with agriculture and the guidance he used to get on WhatsApp groups about farming kept him going.

Likhit likes to maintain a record of everything he does. His family plans to meet the school fee of Rs 39,000 of his daughter, who will be joining LKG next year, from out of the sales proceeds of the vegetables. He says that this is a task to inspire every member of the family to get enthusiastically involved with the farming. Maintenance of vegetable plans have been entrusted to family members. His father, Giriyappa Iddya, a veteran theatre artiste, has to take care of okra and cucumber plants. His wife has to look after the spinach creeper plants. Likhit is in charge of ridge gourds.

Likhit says that raising vegetables, in addition to bringing certain income on a daily basis, also has brought him satisfaction. He says that this is possible due to the guidance of friends and experts in farming, and support of family members.