The Hindu : Kerala News : ‘Thinking of farming in Tamil Nadu’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala

‘Thinking of farming in Tamil Nadu’

Staff Reporter

Vipinraj, a barber.

Ever since the prices went up I am thinking of buying some land in Tamil Nadu for farming. I have heard that land is available for as little as Rs.20,000 a cent in some villages there.

Anyway, most of the vegetables we eat are being brought from there. And if vegetables and rice fetch this kind of prices, putting in hard work on the field is worth it.

Prices of vegetables are so high that buying meat and fish is comparatively cheaper. Price of rice is no better. I buy a sack of rice of 10 kg every two months. But at the old price the same quantity is not available any longer.

Earlier I was able to complete a month without much problems even if I earned only Rs.100 a day. But now I have to earn at least Rs.250 to Rs.300 to make ends meet. I have to pay Rs.100 a day as rent for the room.

There is no way other than to increase the charge. I will wait till the end of this month and if there is no change in prices I will slightly increase the charge for cutting and shaving. I have to work more hours these days. I used to open the shop at 8 a.m. and close by 6.30 p.m. But now I stay back till 10 p.m. By the time I get back home there is hardly any time left but to have food and sleep. My friendships and other relations are getting affected, as I am not able to spend enough time with them.

Parents have been asking me to get married for quite sometime. But I wonder how I am going to run a family with my current income when I am struggling to lead even a bachelor’s life.

I don’t know the reasons for the price rise. But I feel cultivating vegetables even if in a small-scale in the backyard of one’s house is the way to go in the future.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section