78-year-old Thomas Kattakayam acquired his farming skills from his father who was well skilled in the matters of growing healthy vegetables and fruits. Over the last few years, he has cultivated 400 varieties of jackfruit. With an aim to educate people about sustainable agriculture through his initiatives, he makes Rs 4,00,000 per acre.
Kerala: Thomas Kattakayam is at the age when most people prefer to enjoy a relaxed life raising their grandchildren. At the age of 78, he wakes up early in the morning to attend to his farming business. He cultivates 400 varieties of jackfruit and makes Rs 4,00,000 per acre.
Who is Thomas Kattakayam?
Thomas Kattakayam was born in Chakkampuzha village of Kerala. He had acquired his farming skills from his father who was well skilled in the matters of growing healthy vegetables and fruits. His father had a special interest in growing jackfruits, and taking forward the same endeavour, Thomas started cultivating jackfruits.
World’s largest gene bank
Thomas Kattakayam owned a rubber business but during the 2015 recession, the business faced a closure. He turned his attention to nurturing the jackfruit trees planted by his father. Through seed storage and bud grafting, he is not only developing a new variety of jackfruit but also establishing the largest gene bank globally, with under 400 jackfruit varieties currently under cultivation.
A successful business
Thomas planted 114 varieties of jackfruit trees in 5 acres of land in addition to the 140 varieties that were planted by his father. Over the last 8 years, he has remarkably increased the numbers to 400 species of jackfruits. Thomas frequently travels to different cities and states to study about various plant species. The organic taste of the vegetables is appreciated by the customers and some people collect its stems and distribute them in their fields.
Gaining trust
Thomas’s jackfruit varieties gained prominence as people learned about its distinctive qualities. Occasionally, he hosts parties in his farms to showcase and promote the different varieties of jackfruits. He has named the jackfruits like Sindoora, Sidhu, Thinwarika, Super, and All Season Jackfruit. The task of naming 400 varieties was laborious, but Thomas has achieved it successfully. To manage the increasing demand, he hired two staff members dedicated to taking care for the jackfruit.
Benefits of eating jackfruit
Thomas’s jackfruits have gained widespread recognition. These varieties are especially popular for their weight loss benefits. The seeds and plants are priced between Rs 150 to 350 depending on the variety. Impressed by his work at this age, the former Kerala Agricultural Minister CS Sunil Kumar provided him with a discounted machine for drying fruits.
The dried fruits are stored in containers and made available for sale. Ripe dried jackfruit is priced at Rs 2000 per kg, raw jackfruit at Rs 1000 per kg, and Sukh Kala at Rs 750 per kg. Dried jackfruit, rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, lacks cholesterol, and is particularly beneficial for weight loss.
Making lakhs in a month
Driven by his passion for jackfruit, Thomas not only cultivates success but also offers an agri-tourism experience to the public. His vision involves creating a walking path around the farm, allowing guests to understand the significance of the fruit and the advantages of organic farming. He currently makes Rs 4 lakh per acre in a month. His aim is to educate people about sustainable agriculture through his initiatives.
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