: Bedridden for 7 Years, Woman Grows Organic Arrowroot to Build Successful Export Biz #IndiaNEWS #Farming Ten years ago, Jumaila Banu never thought she would be able to lead a normal life and support

Bedridden for 7 Years, Woman Grows Organic Arrowroot to Build Successful Export Biz #IndiaNEWS #Farming
Ten years ago, Jumaila Banu never thought she would be able to lead a normal life and support her family. The then-29-year-old was paralysed after an accident, which resulted in spending seven long years in a hospital bed.
However, the electronic engineering diploma graduate was not ready to give up on her dreams. With medical support and her exceptional determination, Jumaila stood on her feet. But the family had already lost their house and land paying for her treatment. They moved to a rented house and started their lives all over again.
“Even though it was a tough period for us, we ended up beginning from scratch with greater strength,�? says Jumaila, 39, who is now a mother of two and an agripreneur owning more than 20 acres of land where she grows turmeric and arrowroot.
Before the accident, she was a homemaker but always wanted to help her husband in bettering their livelihood. “During my days in the hospital, instead of being disappointed, I was formulating plans to start a farming business. We had no land, but I was sure about making this happen. Soon after I left the hospital, we leased a five-acre land in Kozhikode and started arrowroot farming,�? she says.
Contrary to her expectation, the farming business was a failure and the couple even incurred losses. Most of the arrowroot seeds didn’t even sprout because of incorrect planting methods.
She was disheartened but not ready to give up. With the support of her family, she leased another five acres of land in Wandoor, Malappuram. This time, she was extra careful in planting the seeds. Additionally, advice from senior farmers helped her in the process and ended up growing up to five tonnes of arrowroot in one acre of land.
Organic growth
In her ancestral house in Kozhikode, Jumaila has seen her elders preparing arrowroot powder once a year. She used to take part in its harvesting, processing and even cooking and loved the whole drill. “This was one reason why I opted for arrowroot. And of course, because it is an expensive product in the market with a price point of at least Rs 1,000 per kilogram. �?
Moreover, a friend, who wishes to stay anonymous, helped her process and export the arrowroot powder. She sold the produce to him right after the harvest and today, the fine powder is exported to Germany, Australia and the US.
About the organic farming methods, she explains, “Similar to arrowroot, turmeric is also cleaned, dried and sent to the third party (her friend) for further processing. �?
But the land where she conducts farming today was left barren for more than 20 years. It was after years of trial and error that she achieved success.

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