Coimbatore: The agriculture department is inching closer to achieving its target of distributing five lakh palmyra seeds to farmers across the district. According to officials, they have already distributed 3.5 lakh palmyra seeds in the past three months and the remaining 1.5 lakh seeds would be distributed by the end of this month. The seeds, they said, were sourced from the district and other districts, and federations that promote palmyra.
The objective of the initiative is to increase the coverage of palmyra trees – Tamil Nadu’s state tree – in the state.
An agriculture officer said they were also collaborating with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to implement the project. “Wherever there are farm ponds, we work with DRDA to maintain them and plant palmyra seeds around them. The tree, which draws water from deep, would help preserve groundwater levels and strengthen tank bunds.”
The official said they were planting the seeds not only on farms, but also in common areas and around waterbodies. “We also see to it that seeds are planted on the bunds of common ponds and tanks.”
Pointing out that palmyra has a very low rate of germination and requires a long time to germinate, the official said around 20% of planted seeds was likely to germinate.
Apart from the agriculture department, environment forums have also been planting palmyra seeds near water bodies, on forest boundaries and other areas in the district. R Manikandan, organizer of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu said their volunteers had planted around 1.25 lakh palmyra seeds in the district last year. “Of them, around 5% has survived.”
The objective of the initiative is to increase the coverage of palmyra trees – Tamil Nadu’s state tree – in the state.
An agriculture officer said they were also collaborating with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to implement the project. “Wherever there are farm ponds, we work with DRDA to maintain them and plant palmyra seeds around them. The tree, which draws water from deep, would help preserve groundwater levels and strengthen tank bunds.”
The official said they were planting the seeds not only on farms, but also in common areas and around waterbodies. “We also see to it that seeds are planted on the bunds of common ponds and tanks.”
Pointing out that palmyra has a very low rate of germination and requires a long time to germinate, the official said around 20% of planted seeds was likely to germinate.
Apart from the agriculture department, environment forums have also been planting palmyra seeds near water bodies, on forest boundaries and other areas in the district. R Manikandan, organizer of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu said their volunteers had planted around 1.25 lakh palmyra seeds in the district last year. “Of them, around 5% has survived.”
