CHENNAI: As the youngest farmer in his family, 22-year-old Suresh Kumar takes pride in being the agent of change. He started organic farming on three acres of their seven-acre land at Dharapuram in Tirupur in 2019, and is inspiring everyone at home to make the switch.
Suresh is among a growing community of farmers and farming enthusiasts ignited by the vision of Ra Sundar, a young man from Puducherry, who has created a seed revolution of long-lost and rarely known native vegetables that score high on gut, heart and soil health. Sundar’s community, Uzhuthu Unn, has 500 members who include students, professionals, homemakers and small-time farmers who have revived indigenous vegetable varieties like Udumalai Samba (a variety of brinjal) and Vetrilai Valli Kizhangu (pink yam) that they grow organically in their gardens.
