Vizaneino Kiso
Patkai Christian College (Autonomous)
In every corner of our country, there are growing number of young people who have completed their education or earned their degrees, but lingering idly at home, unemployed and unsure of what to do next. They have hopes, dreams, and qualifications, but jobs are few and competition is high.
Every year, lakh of students graduate, but government and private jobs cannot absorb them all. Over time, many wait, gradually losing energy, confidence, and motivation.
But what if this could be turned into something meaningful, productive, and life changing? What if, instead of sitting idle, more young people start growing food, not only for income but also for health, self-reliance, and peace of mind?
The mindset that farming or gardening is for people who are uneducated or from rural backgrounds needs to change: Farming is not failure. Gardening is not just a hobby. Growing own vegetables, fruits, and herbs is an act of wisdom, strength, and responsibility. Using one's hands to plant in the soil, regardless of education, reflects strength and practicality, not a loss of dignity.
Growing one’s own food, even in a small garden, is a deeply meaningful act.
First, it reduces dependency on market vegetables, often produced and sold inorganically, with harmful heath implications. As per reports, many illnesses like stomach issues, hormonal imbalances, and even some cancers are linked to the food consumption. When you grow vegetables at home even simple ones like tomatoes, spinach, chilies, brinjal, or coriander, you can grow them without any chemicals, using natural fertiliser.
Thus, the greatest benefit is knowing exactly what goes into one’s body.
Second, it saves money. Vegetables are getting costlier, especially during certain seasons. By growing own food, one can reduce daily expenses and support their family. Many assume gardening requires a large plot, but even small spaces like balconies, rooftops, or backyards can be used with pots, containers, bottles, or raised beds.
Gardening is also a life skill. It teaches patience, observation, and care. A person also learns how to protect, support, and nurture a plant and that itself becomes a healing activity. For many people, gardening is a form of mental therapy reducing stress, anxiety, and restlessness. Instead of hours on social media, spending just 30 minutes with plants can improve well-being.
Moreover, for the unemployed, gardening or small- scale farming can become a part-time job or even a full-time income source by selling produce locally or to restaurants. Many have started with a few pots at home and grown successful organic vegetable brands, proving that with consistency, knowledge, and passion, small beginnings can lead to much more.
One of the biggest challenges is the mindset of society. Sometimes, when an educated youth decides to farm or garden, people tend to look down on them. Some parents may even say, “We didn’t send you to college to do this”. But such thinking is outdated. In fact, parents and teachers should actively encourage children and students to learn basic agriculture skills from a young age.
Schools can include gardening projects, teach composting, or show students how food is grown. This creates a deep respect for farmers, for nature, and for food itself. Once children learn to grow one plant successfully, they feel proud and that pride can grow into a passion. Agriculture should not be seen as punishment for joblessness, but as a powerful tool for self-employment and sustainable living.
There is absolutely nothing undignified about farming. In fact, it is one of the oldest and most honourable professions in the world. Every day, we eat food that farmers have grown and without them, no one would survive. So why do we hesitate to become one?
Being educated and becoming a farmer is actually a beautiful combination. Among others, it allows application of knowledge to improve farming techniques or use social media to promote products. One can even document your journey and inspire others.
In the past, fieldwork was often seen as “low class,” but today, amid rising food prices and pollution, growing one’s own food offers greater security, health, and independence. Education should not take us away from the soil but bring us back to it with better ideas, tools, and understanding.
So, to every young person unsure of what to do next: don’t wait. Start planting, learn to grow food, and create a small garden in any way you can. Watch things grow. Watch yourself grow.
It does not need much land, money, or experience, only patience, care, and the courage to start. The future belongs to those who take action, not just those who wait.
You may be jobless now but if you start planting today, you are already building something. You are growing a future.
