An Unexpected Call That Turned into an Unforgettable Experience.

A few weeks ago, our sales team received a casual enquiry from someone who introduced himself as a doctor. He said he got our contact through a friend who has been using our products for a long time. He mentioned his passion for farming and how he wanted to bring a more scientific and sustainable approach to it. As part of our regular SOP especially since we work with many doctors managing plantations especially in spices and rubber the enquiry was handed over to our Agri Team for a field visit for input recommendations.

The visit was scheduled at a farm near Perumbavoor. When our Agri team arrived, the farm in charge casually asked, “Do you know who owns this farm?” We only knew him as Dr. Jose, who lives in Kochi city.That’s when we were told that the person who had called us was none other than Dr. Jose Chacko Periyapuram the legendary heart surgeon who performed Kerala’s first successful heart transplant and the recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award 2025.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to personally accompany our team for the second round of the visit. We spent over 3.5 hours walking through the farm, talking about agriculture, organic practices and sustainable nutrient, pest and soil management. Despite being one of the most respected medical professionals in the country, Dr. Jose was incredibly humble, soft-spoken and grounded. He speaks in a very calm, low voice, listens intently and shows a deep curiosity to learn. It was inspiring to see how someone who has saved countless lives and achieved so much still carries such humility. Truly, the more one achieves, the more grounded one becomes.

This was my first time interacting directly with him and it left a lasting impression. ABTEC is honoured to support the farming vision of such a legendary figure.

Bibin Jacob, Managing Director