From drought‑hit tapioca fields to thriving vegetable farms, climate‑resilient agriculture is securing livelihoods in Tamil Nadu even as rainfall declines.
00:01Since time immemorial, cassava has been a staple, along with the tapioca starch and its roots.
00:07But in Tamil Nadu's Pachamalai Mountains, many farmers have stopped growing the crop
00:12as it requires moderate irrigation and there is not enough rain.
00:17I made the switch two years ago.
00:19When I was farming tapioca, it was difficult to manage my household expenses.
00:25If your crop depends on rainfall, only you earn money when it rains.
00:30But your spending remains high, whatever.
00:33We also have to rely on others for help, which adds to the cost.
00:40Until a few years ago, many farmers were forced to go to neighboring Kerala to find work, just to make ends meet.
00:48To support these tribal communities, the Tamil Nadu Tribal Welfare Department teamed up with the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
00:57to launch the Anthanai project.
01:00Through the program, farmers receive free seeds, seedlings and fertilizers, along with agricultural tools and machinery,
01:08and training in crop management.
01:16Under this scheme, we provide farmers with different seeds like okra, tomatoes, beans and more.
01:24The main goal is to help farmers increase their income.
01:27By cultivating different vegetables, they can harvest something throughout the year, reducing the need to seek outside work.
01:36Initially, 125 farmers signed up for the government program, switching from a tapioca monoculture to growing a wide variety of crops,
01:47including beans, tomatoes, chillies and mangoes.
01:51Palani and his wife joined the program a while ago. It has changed their lives. They haven't had to go to Kerala for a long time.
02:00Even if I work for 10 acres of land in Kerala, I'm still just a laborer there.
02:05When we were working in Kerala, the farm owner would scold my husband for one thing or another.
02:16I really felt bad to see him being treated this way.
02:19But now, in our own place, with nearly 15 people working for him, I feel so proud and happy.
02:25Palani's reputation is now firmly established. In September 2025, he won an award because his harvests outperformed most other farmers in the program.
02:40He's convinced that sustainable farming with multiple crops is key to a secure future, also for the next generation.
02:46When farmers don't get a good harvest, they can't even send their children to school.
02:53Many children go to government schools and leave when they are just 12.
02:58Our scheme teaches them about farming so they can provide for themselves later, without having to go to Kerala or elsewhere like we did.
03:06They can feel confident about their future.
03:08A future in Tamil Nadu. The prospects here aren't bad. Tapioca farming has shrunk by more than a third in this region over the past decade.
03:21Replaced in a stead by many more vegetables. And more for the farmers to live on.
Be the first to comment