The farmers from various districts of Tamil Nadu enthusiastically engaged in the seminar, with the session being held on the pepper farm of Bhagyaraj, a pioneer farmer in the Vadakadu village of Alangudi taluk.
Coimbatore: A field training and agricultural seminar 'Pepper Cultivation is Possible even in the Plains' was organized by the Cauvery Calling team at Pudukottai on Sunday.
Around 900 farmers from various districts of Tamil Nadu participated. The session was held on the pepper farm of Bhagyaraj, a pioneer farmer in the Vadakadu village of Alangudi taluk.
The State Field Coordinator of the Cauvery Calling movement, Tamilmaran said, “Farmers generally think that pepper cultivation can be done only in hilly areas. However, many farmers in the Pudukkottai area have been cultivating pepper in the plains for many years. They are earning extra income by planting pepper vines on timber trees.”
Revealing that the pepper cultivation program has been a regular ongoing feature for the past five years, Tamilmaran said the objective was to “extend this opportunity to other district farmers. So far, more than 5,000 farmers have benefited from this training. Since the program began five years ago, farmers have started cultivating pepper all over Tamil Nadu,” he added.
“Farmers can let the pepper grow on the trees along the fences of their regular crops. Farmers who have been cultivating timber can earn an additional annual income by cultivating pepper. Pepper begins to ripen in 3 to 4 years. Up to 10 kg of pepper can be harvested from a single vine growing for 10 years,” revealed Pudukkottai District Director of Agriculture, Rama Sivakumar. Additional Director Senthil Kumar and the Cauvery Calling Project Coordinator Swami Srimukha also detailed the methods of cultivation to optimize yield and profit for the farmers.
The Indian Agricultural Association President Dhanapathy, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharath Srinivasan, and farmer Maram Kannan inaugurated the seminar with the traditional lighting of the lamp.
Pioneer farmers who have been successfully profiting from pepper cultivation including Balusamy, Rajakannu, Bhagyaraj, Senthamizh Selvan, and Thirumalai shared the nuances and their personal success stories of pepper cultivation at this event.
Around 900 farmers from various districts of Tamil Nadu participated. The session was held on the pepper farm of Bhagyaraj, a pioneer farmer in the Vadakadu village of Alangudi taluk.
The State Field Coordinator of the Cauvery Calling movement, Tamilmaran said, “Farmers generally think that pepper cultivation can be done only in hilly areas. However, many farmers in the Pudukkottai area have been cultivating pepper in the plains for many years. They are earning extra income by planting pepper vines on timber trees.”
Revealing that the pepper cultivation program has been a regular ongoing feature for the past five years, Tamilmaran said the objective was to “extend this opportunity to other district farmers. So far, more than 5,000 farmers have benefited from this training. Since the program began five years ago, farmers have started cultivating pepper all over Tamil Nadu,” he added.
“Farmers can let the pepper grow on the trees along the fences of their regular crops. Farmers who have been cultivating timber can earn an additional annual income by cultivating pepper. Pepper begins to ripen in 3 to 4 years. Up to 10 kg of pepper can be harvested from a single vine growing for 10 years,” revealed Pudukkottai District Director of Agriculture, Rama Sivakumar. Additional Director Senthil Kumar and the Cauvery Calling Project Coordinator Swami Srimukha also detailed the methods of cultivation to optimize yield and profit for the farmers.
The Indian Agricultural Association President Dhanapathy, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharath Srinivasan, and farmer Maram Kannan inaugurated the seminar with the traditional lighting of the lamp.
Pioneer farmers who have been successfully profiting from pepper cultivation including Balusamy, Rajakannu, Bhagyaraj, Senthamizh Selvan, and Thirumalai shared the nuances and their personal success stories of pepper cultivation at this event.