Hobbyists urge youth to take up farming

MUSCAT, MAY 12
Farming enthusiasts in Oman gathered from various parts of the country to spread a unique message, 'Farming is life, and it begins with planting a seed', especially among the youth. The gathering was held as part of the Oman Krishikkoottam Grand Harvest Festival 2026, where hundreds of farming hobbyists were also recognised and awarded for their achievements in agriculture-related activities.
In the 'Pot Category', Sumithra Selvan was awarded the 1st prize, while Sunitha Haridas and Thomas Alexander received the 2nd and 3rd prizes. The event was presided over by Santosh Varghese, with a renowned Malayalam film and serial actor as the Chief Guest.
In the 'Pot and Soil Category', Anitha Anilkumar, Shyjumon TT and Sreeshyla Arun were adjudged the winners, while in the 'Soil Category', Suneeda Beevi and Arunkumar Vijayan secured the top three positions.
Senior citizen farmers who shared their expertise and knowledge were also honoured during the gathering, which distributed seeds to budding farmers.
Krishnaveni Praveen, Mallika Sukumaran, John Yohannan and Molly Abraham were recognised for their contributions. Diya Nair was awarded the Multifaceted Talent Award for her all-round expertise, presented by Mohammed Ashraf, Managing Director of Shahi Foods, with Reshmi Sandeep proposing the vote of thanks.
Adding vibrancy to the celebrations, a musical evening featuring performances by Reshma Raghavendra, Archa Sreekumar, Ananthapadmanabhan and Saneesh P Sathyan, along with dance performances by members of Oman Krishikkoottam, enthralled the audience.
The day-long event began with a moment of silent prayer for world peace, followed by insights into farming by Sreejith Kumarakom and Suni Shyam, who presented the vision and mission of the gathering.
Bincy James, who has achieved remarkable success in organic farming, was honoured with the Prakriti Mitra Award for her dedication and valuable contributions towards organic farming. The award, which included a plaque and cash prize, was presented by Vinod Kovoor.
Anitha Anilkumar, recipient of the Oman Karshaka Sree Award, was presented with an award sponsored by Shahi Foods and Spices LLC, and all attendees received seeds of various fruits and vegetables for organic farming at the end of the event.