Sri. Eldho baby is a farmer conserver hails from Pozhuthana Panchayath of Wayanad district. He follows integrated farming system with animal husbandry and agro forestry in such a way to ensure the income throughout the year.
The major crops cultivated by Sri. Eldho Baby are coffee, arecanut, pepper, ginger, turmeric and cardamom. The crops have been processed and the seeds are conserved for the following season.
Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, cowpea, brinjal, tomato, and amaranthus have grown in accordance with the favourable season. The buyers get an opportunity to pluck the fresh vegetable directly from his farm.
His livestock has 10 cows, 3 goats and a poultry farm. He practices recycling method to nurture the crops and to increase the soil fertility. Farm wastes have been utilized for generating biogas and slurry for manuring. His farm is a fine example of the efficient resource recycling and the subsequent reduction in the input cost, which could be a model for other farmers too. He says that this kind of recycling methods will boost the robust growth of micro-organisms in the soil and above all it enriches the soil biota.
Since his farmland has located adjacent to the forest, playing music to ward off the wild animals is a method that he follows. This is worth replicating in the areas, which are vulnerable with man-animal conflict.
Every member in the family is being involved in farming practices, which exemplify the concept of joint effort of the family .
MSSRF and Kerala Agriculture Department have established a farm school in his field. This helps farmers and research scholars to learn on specific agricultural practices. About 26 classes on various topics on agriculture practices have been conducted till date in the farm school. The Kerala agriculture department linked the farm in its extension program through Agricultural Technology Management Agency program (ATMA).
He states that parents should teach the children, the legacy knowledge pertinent to agriculture