MALAPPURAM: A group of students of KHM High School, Valakkulam near Kottakkal will have to fulfill the huge demand in the local market for their own brand of “Kathirmani” rice, a prospect that does not daunt the students. The successful harvesting of their experimental cultivation a few months ago has given them the confidence to venture into two acres of sprawling field in the area with seasonal Mundakan cultivation. The student members of the National Green Corps (NGC) at the School are behind this entrepreneurial venture.
The students have used the Uma variety of paddy seeds which was provided by the agricultural department under a special scheme. From sowing the seeds to packaging the final product, everything would be done by the 160-member students of the NGC, says K.P Shaniyas, the coordinator of the NGC. It was started as a Sunday farming venture in 2015, the idea being to learn farming. Later the students had to learn about marketing and branding of the final product too. Thus the brand ‘Kathirmani’ was born. The first batch of Kathirmani rice was launched by the Minister for Agriculture Mr V.S Sunil Kumar in August this year.
Around six tonnes of Kathirmani branded rice was sold with days after the launch. The students are expecting around 700 kgs of rice from the two acre area this time which is expected to be harvested in February next year. Along with this, the students also have plans to procure rice from the farmers in and around Valakkulam to meet the market demand. They plan to market 1200 Kg of rice under the brand which has a strong market in the area.
