Tapioca farming
Even because the Forest Department and NABARD are seeking to promote alternative cropping in Pachamalai, tapioca cultivation is on complete swing within the hills and tribal farmers, recommended by means of the copious rain from the north east monsoon, are assured of registering better yield this season.
Tapioca is one of the predominant horticultural vegetation which make certain sustained livelihood to a massive quantity of tribal farmers. About three,000 acres has been delivered below the crop in Tiruchi district, a first-rate area being on the Pachamalai, despite the fact that villages which includes Shobanapuram in Uppliyapuram block, at the foot of the hills, account for about 5 percent of the tapioca area.
Most farmers have resorted to elevating ‘rose tapioca’ and ‘H-165’ varieties which are starch-wealthy flowers on the way to sign up higher returns from the cluster of personal starch industries positioned in Salem, Athur down the hills within the Salem district.
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According to farmers, the duration of the crop is ready seven to eight months however farmers anticipate for more than one months beyond its maturity for making sure more appealing fee. A foremost advantage of the crop is that it is able to resist drought-prone conditions, despite the fact that periodical watering or irrigation could fortify its nice and weight. The common yield in line with acre is 5 tonnes that fetches sales of Rs. 20, 000 on a mean. Farmer’s investment according to acre is set Rs.10,000. The best problem has been the rate of the produce. Farmers said they do now not get appealing fee from the industries.
Farmers whinge that middlemen had been the most important beneficiaries of tapioca cultivation.
Sago units, they all owned through private sector industrialists, repair the fee in step with their demand and primarily based on starch content.
Often farmers are given a decrease charge on the ground that starch content material turned into low of their produce.
The NABARD were enforcing a tribal improvement challenge on the hills. Development of orchards, elevating of silver okaytrees and cashew timber turned into one among them.
According to S. Suresh Kumar, District Development Manager, National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development, efforts are being taken to diversify the cropping sample. He said the alternative horticultural interest might now not handiest fetch higher returns but also assist keep away from soil erosion.
According to representatives of Hand in Hand India, a voluntary enterprise enforcing the tribal development programme WADI, manual harvesting of tapioca at some point of June or July, specifically after the summer showers, results in soil erosion in Pachamalai. The crimson laterite soil on Pachamalai is so excellent that it is without difficulty eroded due to showers after harvest.
