US students plough in Kerala paddy farms

Kochi (Kerala), Feb.2 (ANI): A group of twenty four students from the United States spent three days working in the fields of Kerala, working shoulder to shoulder with peasants here.

The college students of Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia in USA have come on a month long tour to India along with their teacher Professor Kim and his family.

The students tried their hands in the traditional way of cultivation at the farms lands near Kochi in Kuzhoor village of Kerala recently, as part of their study programme that has brought them here.

Since morning till evening, all 28 of them used to enter the paddy fields and work like any ordinary farmer of Kerala; ploughing using oxen, filling water with the help of wooden rollers wheels, spraying fertilizers and finally sowing paddy saplings.

They enjoyed the work, though little hard, but it was a kind of learning different culture and tradition all together, says one student.

During their rest of the time in the month long stay here, these U.S students will try to know the Indian culture, tradition and various art forms, which has been included in their curriculum.

For villagers, it was a different experience, especially for village children who enjoyed watching so many foreigners working in their paddy fields.

The entire tour has been planned and organized by Francis Paul Kandamkulathy of New Indian Voyages, a tour operating company in Kerala, mainly specialises in farm and unique tourism activities.

All students are stayed in the village for three days, arranged at different home stays of local people. Apart from tourism, it also generates some kind of income to the villagers, farmers, bullock cart drivers, ladies, home stays etc, said Francis Paul.

Professor Kim Brenneman, who is leading the group, said that this is a good experience for students and at the time of financial crisis when lakhs are losing their jobs in America, they can easily return to the farming sector, which can in a way bring down the cost.

Last time this same village witnessed hosted students from France for the same tour programme.

According to the State Planning Board, the area under paddy cultivation came down from 3,47,000 hectares in 2000-01 to 276,000 hectares in the last fiscal. The production of rice also came down from 751,000 tonnes to 630,000 tonnes during the same period.

People in the industry feel that this kind of activities not only boost the tourism sector but will also motivate farmers to start cultivating their unused farmlands.

The Kerala government has chalked out mega plans to promote rural and farm tourism since the State's natural beauty is a major attraction for the visitors. By Juhan Samuel (ANI)