Meet 75-year-old priest who grows organic vegetables and sells them at local market

KOTTAYAM: Growing vegetables, harvesting them, and selling them at the local market is a source of great joy for Father Issac Mattammel Cor Episcopa. He has been following this routine for nearly two decades and continues to do so even at the age of 75.

Every week, Father Issac brings fresh organic vegetables to the market in Chemmanad, where they are quickly sold out. He is currently the vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral, Kandanad.

After the morning Mass, Father Issac heads either to the church compound or to his three-acre farm, carrying his farming tools. He spends his time preparing the soil, planting, and caring for crops until lunchtime. After a meal and a short rest, he returns to the farm around 2:30 p.m. Three workers assist him with the farming activities. Harvesting is mainly done on Saturdays and Sundays.

His farm grows a wide variety of crops, including tomatoes, okra, beans, ivy gourd, spinach, elephant yam, taro, snake gourd, bitter gourd, bananas, and even jackfruit. He uses only organic fertilisers. The farm also has fish ponds where piranha and rohu fish are raised.

Born into a traditional farming family, Father Issac entered the priesthood at the age of 25. He initially served in churches under the Kottayam Diocese. After returning to his hometown of Kandanad, he became actively involved in agriculture.

Father Issac believes that God's presence can be felt in the fields as well. A significant portion of the income generated from farming is set aside to help the poor and needy.

His wife Mary, daughter Safna, who is a government hospital doctor, and son Subin, an IT professional, also share his interest in farming.

22nd priest from Mattammel family
Father Issac is the 22nd priest from the well-known Mattammel family of Kandanad. His father, Isahak Kathanar, and his grandfather were also priests. Two members of the younger generation of the family have also entered the priesthood.

"Love the earth, and it will give you nectar," says Father Issac.