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Ex-serviceman's variety crops give good yield

Mangaluru: This ex-serviceman-turned-organic farmer in Kadaba is on a mission to prove that crops that are generally grown in north Karnataka and other places can be successfully cultivated in Dakshina Kannada too.

Matthew T G, 68, served in the Army’s signals wing. He has taken up agriculture on a 10-acre land, which was allotted to him by the government after retirement.

He grows maize, millet, tur dal, groundnut and corn. Apart from it, his garden has a variety of fruits, rubber, coconut and areca. He is supported by his wife Philomena, a retired teacher.

In the 10-acre land, he has used every inch of land without wasting any space. He has cultivated sona masoori rice in half acre. The rest of the land has 2,500 rubber plants, 100 coconut trees, 500 areca trees, 30 nutmeg trees, 500 agarwood, black pepper, lemon, apple, pomegranate, sweet lime, pistachio, medicinal plants and many others.

“The interest to grow north Karnataka crops was triggered by a couple from Bagalkot district, who worked with me for a long time. As a result, I started to experiment with groundnut, millet, corn, tur dal and maize. I used only organic manure to grow. The result was positive and I was successful in getting good yield,” said Matthew, who after retirement worked as a teacher in government colleges in Panja and Kadaba. “I grow everything that is required for my house. I buy only onion and garlic from outside,” said Matthew.

He added that he wanted his farm to be totally chemical and pesticide-free. In order to achieve that goal, Matthew reared 13 cows, whose dung is used for bio-gas and manure for farm. The cows produce nearly 80 litres of milk every day. He uses cow urine and soap mixture as a pesticide.

“My children were unhappy with me for taking this work after retirement. However, this is to just encourage younger generation, who want to get into white collar jobs instead of agriculture. The message is that agriculture can give better future than getting into office jobs or other works. It keeps one healthy and helps to produce food,” he said explaining why he took up agriculture.

Matthew, whose children work in Indian Air Force, said he is planning to grow basmati and wheat in his farmland. “There is a notion here in Dakshina Kannada that only traditional crops can grow and I want to debunk that theory.”

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