Veliyath Gardens

Fifteen years ago, while working abroad, an idea began to take root in the mind of Sreekumar Menon, a man who had been fascinated by fruits and plants since childhood.

- Sreekumar Menon

What began as a simple hobby slowly grew into Veliyath, his tropical fruit farm at Manjapetti near Ernakulam. Today, the farm is one of Kerala's most unique agricultural ventures, where more than a thousand varieties of fruits from around the world thrive on local soil.

"I cannot give you an exact date when this journey began," Sreekumar says. "It started as a hobby collection. Over time, that hobby grew into something much bigger."

Why Exotic Fruits in Kerala

In a land known for its spread of bananas, jackfruits, and mangoes, Sreekumar realised that many tropical regions—Indonesia, Malaysia, South America, and parts of Africa—shared climates that are similar to Kerala. "Everything that grows in those countries can grow here too," he explains. "Our climate is almost the same as Thailand or Indonesia. That was when I thought, why not try?" That thought became the seed of Veliyath.

Building Knowledge Across Borders

Sreekumar's research did not happen in laboratories or classrooms. His work took him to different countries, and wherever he went, he observed, learned, and spoke to growers. "I travelled a lot, and whenever I saw something new, I wanted to try it back home," he recalls. "Once it became a serious hobby, I developed contacts abroad. They would help me get seeds or plants."