Deepti Special School in Alappuzha district of Kerala has won the best educational institution award from the state government for its outstanding performance in the field of agriculture. It is the first special school in Alappuzha which was opened on October 10, 1992.

Initially, it functioned as a dispensary. It was later established as a school for disabled children. The school is currently located near Vembanad Lake. It is very difficult to grow vegetables near this area. However, Deepti Special School overcame all these crises with resounding success in the field of agriculture.

The school currently has about 105 students. Sister Juliette, the school’s principal, says the school got into agriculture as part of an effort to provide children with nutritious food through farming. The school has been active in agriculture for four years. They also want to promote the idea that children with disabilities who are active in agriculture can improve their mental health through this initiative.

Floods in Kerala in 2018 completely destroyed all crops in the school. The exemplary work of this school, which again cultivated all the vegetables on the fallow land, is an inspiration to other educational institutions in Kerala.

Teachers and students have worked hard to grow different varieties in the school premises near the lake. Spinach, okra, eggplant, tomato, green peppers, corn, carrots, beets, sugar cane, and various varieties of bananas are grown here. Apart from this, fish farming, poultry farming, duck farming and rabbit farming are also practiced in the school. The excrement obtained from them is used as fertilizer for plants.

The children in this school knew how to apply fertilizers and control pests on the farm. TG Polymers Company in Kerala provided 500 grow bags for cultivation free of charge. It has 23 employees who provide all kinds of help on the farm. In addition to the main Sister Juliette, Sister Ancho and Sister Risapoul also run the farm.

First published: 25 April 2022, 10:17 IST