DERGAON, Feb 3 - At a time when the youths in general are averse to agricultural production through the sweat of their brow, a good number of senior citizens, including octogenarians, are active in farming activities in Golaghat district.
As many as 12 farmers within the age group of 60 to 85 years are busy in their agricultural fields. They even till their fields by themselves.
Several senior villagers of the historic Chongkola village in Golaghat district are busy in agricultural activities at Helochijan area, a sapori of the Dhansiri.
Among the senior farmers, Purnakanta Gogoi, 79, is so active that the young ones among the toiling lot often find it an uphill task to keep pace with him.
A retired Defence personnel, he started his agricultural activities in 2004. After 20 years of dedicated service in the Indian Air Force, he retired in 1985 and subsequently joined the State Bank of India in 1994 and retired from service in 2004.
He is presently cultivating mustard in five bighas of land, along with other cash crops.
�I am able to do hard work due to my disciplined life in the Indian Air Force. Without regularity and discipline in daily life, no one can expect to live long or do hard labour in old age,� Gogoi said.
�Though we the seniors are busy in farming activity day in and day out, but the young ones are not attracted towards agricultural production, rather they hanker after a workless culture with motorbikes and mobiles,� he rued.
Dimbeswar Gogoi, 63, is also cultivating mustard in 11 bighas of land along with other cash crops.
�This time production of mustard crop is quite promising. We obviously expect a good harvest within one-and-a-half months,� Dimbeswar Gogoi speculated.
�However, we are facing serious threat from frequent depredation by elephants and deer in our crop fields,� he mentioned.
Similarly, Nandeswar Gogoi, 85, and Debeswar Gogoi, 65, are also active in their agricultural fields round the clock at Chongkola village.
Nibha Gogoi, a teacher at Kristo Jyoti High School at Bokakhat and a resident of the village said that the senior villagers were in fact ideals for the young generation to emulate.
�The young generation must follow the ideals of such senior citizens, including the octogenarians, and learn to live a fulfilling life through scientific farming, instead of hankering over momentary pleasures of life,� she said.