Former bank manager turned farmer Abino Sajan transforms farming with 'Govridhi' solution, boosts yields and livelihoods

KOCHI: Abino Sajan found happiness in leaving his job as a bank manager to become a farmer. Despite the physical exertion, he found peace of mind in his new endeavor. He discovered that a solution made from dung and cow urine was optimal for yield, leading to the development of a small-scale enterprise called 'Govridhi', which also provided livelihood income.

Amidst the Covid crisis, 38-year-old Abino, an engineering degree holder and a member of the Machingal Pulikottil family, transitioned to farming in Kunnamkulam. Recognizing infertile soil as a key issue in agricultural decline, he turned to traditional farming methods, particularly utilizing cow urine and dung to enhance soil fertility. Breeding cows for this purpose, he achieved impressive yields with the application of cow dung, prompting interest from neighbors who sought the dung solution. Thus, the 'Govridhi' initiative was born, advertised through notices and social media, and distributed via mopeds in 10-liter cans to customers, including cultivators on kitchen and terrace gardens, with fixed delivery routes and online booking available.

The business operates with its own lorry, which transports both the dung solution and the mopeds for street delivery. As costs rose, cow urine and dung were procured from dairy farmers, with the goal of eventually scaling up the project into an industrial operation.

Abino receives support from his wife Twinkle and daughter Atvina.

Govrdhi, a thick solution fermented for 21 days by combining cow dung and cow urine in a large tank, is sold. It is diluted with twenty parts water before use, with recommended usage of 200 ml per week for vegetables and 5 liters per month for coconut and squash, while flowering plants require a light sprinkling. Notably, it is odorless.

Monthly sales of the concentrated solution are priced at 20 rupees per liter, with a shelf life of two years.

"Plants show increased fruit production within days. It also acts as a biopesticide against aphids."

- Abino