Udupi: In a heartfelt initiative aimed at reconnecting the younger generation with agriculture, members of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) and Youth Catholic Students (YCS) from Thottam’s St. Ann’s Church spent their Sunday immersed in the fields of Bylakere, planting paddy saplings.
Parish priest Fr. Denis D’Sa, who actively participated in the planting, emphasized the urgent need to reignite youth interest in farming. “Farmers are the foundation of our nation, yet many are abandoning agriculture due to labor shortages, rising costs, and lack of support. It’s essential to bring young minds closer to the soil and help them appreciate the value of farming,” he said. He added that the produce from the effort would be donated to the needy.
Wilma Fernandes, in charge of the field, stressed the importance of understanding the origins of daily meals. “Young people must realize the hard work behind every grain of rice. Such hands-on experiences nurture respect and interest for farming,” she shared.
ICYM President Rion Martis described the experience as eye-opening. “Getting into the fields and planting ourselves made us appreciate the immense effort farmers put in. It was joyful, yet humbling.”
The event saw participation from ICYM and YCS leaders including Leslie Arora, Lavina Arora, Alice Minajes, and several enthusiastic women volunteers like Sunita Martis, Asa Martis, Doreen Fernandes, and Joseph Pinto.
The activity aimed not only to encourage agricultural learning but also to build empathy, sustainability, and community responsibility.