Abandoned quarry changes its owners fortune

KOZHIKODE: An idea, indeed, changed his life. And M Sajeendran, a ‘villainous’ quarry owner once, has now become a hero for the residents of Elamannasserry Methal near Pantheerankavu. He is the winner of the state government’s award for the best fish farmer in the district this year.Sajeendran, who was working at a petrol bunk in the city, ventured into fish farming two years ago taking it as a part-time business, with the help of the Perumanna panchayat. Today, he is harvesting more than 600 kg of fish per annum and earns an additional income of Rs. 60,000.Sajeendran started raising fish in the pond of his quarry. “I had to abandon the quarry a few years ago owing to protests from local people. The idea of raising fish in the pond was suggested by the then agriculture coordinator of the Perumanna panchayat. I decided to give it a try as hardly any investment was needed. However, it proved to be a fortune changer decision for the entire family,” Sajeendran said.He is now earning rich dividends by growing Catla, Rohu Carp and Indian Mrigal Carp. For this, 1,500 fingerlings are provided by the panchayat authorities every year free of cost. “As it is a natural landscape, we need not do anything other than providing food like organic wastes, oil cake and bran of rice.”For the venture, he divided the quarry into two parts, a small portion and a larger one. The small portion is used for growing fingerlings. “Fingerlings are first put in a separate portion of the quarry for four months, and later shifted to the larger portion. In eight months, the fish will be ready for harvest and will weighs up to 2 kg. We will get around Rs. 120-130 for a kilogram of fish,” he added.Sajeendran further said that unlike other agriculture ventures, fish farming can be done throughout the year. “We are also producing coconut, tapioca, banana and other things on 2.5 acres of land. But from my own experience, I can say that fish farming yields more dividends. There is no need to invest much on this venture. Normally, farmers have to construct tanks for growing fish but I did not have to do that,” he pointed out.His wife Kanakalatha and sons Jithin and Jishnu are always there to help him. He also gets tips and technical assistance from agriculture officers.  “Most of the farmers are not aware of fish farming. If there are regular marketing facilities and other aids, fish farming could be an additional income for many of them,” he said. Success has given Sajeendran a new found confidence, and he is planning to devote himself entirely to fish farming.