Students of Kikani Vidhya Mandir discover new perspectives on Agriculture at Athachi Farms
An interactive session encouraged young minds to look beyond conventional career choices and discover the art, science and possibilities within agriculture.
Dr. Vishwanath N. Subramanian opened the session by asking the Grade 7 students about their career aspirations. While many hands went up for medicine, engineering and space science, only a few were raised when farming was mentioned.
Speaking as a doctor, he highlighted the vital role of farmers and encouraged the students to explore the wide-ranging opportunities within agriculture. He also noted that the session might inspire some of them to reconsider how they viewed agriculture – and perhaps even their own ambitions.
Dr. P. S. John, Professor of Agronomy, then led an engaging discussion on the many dimensions of agriculture. Through simple questions and relatable examples, he explained how rainfall and temperature influence crop cultivation and introduced the students to tropical and temperate crops.
Describing agriculture as an art, a science, a business and a system of production, he introduced the students to fields such as apiculture and sericulture. He also spoke about the contributions of agricultural scientists, researchers and innovators, linking their work to national development and public service.
The session remained lively and interactive, helping the students see agriculture as more than farming and understand its connections to science, technology, research, enterprise, nature and environmental responsibility.
The learning continued with a guided tour of Athachi Farms, where the students and staff explored various fascinating subjects, including Nakshatra Vanam, Navagraha Vanam and Goshala. The calves and birds were particular favourites, adding to the excitement of the day. Before leaving, the students presented a handmade note thanking the Athachi team for the warm welcome and the memorable experience.
