MANGALORE: An agriculturist couple in the city has proved that even a barren land with laterite stones can be turned into a green paddy field. Their hard work has yielded results within three years and they now produce about 15 quintals of paddy an year and earn at least Rs 12,000 by selling vegetables per month.
Mark Sera and Suguna turned 27 acres of barren land with red stones near their house at Mary Hill in the city through 17 years of hard work and dedication. The couple adopted rainwater harvesting methods to make the land cultivable. Mark, 45, who does not use any chemical pesticides, depends only on organic methods of cultivation.