Agriculture

One of the main rivers passing through the state of Tamil Nadu is the River Palar. Although no water flows along the surface for most of the year there is ground water several metres under the river bed. Around the river channel very shallow wells are used to irrigate crops. The area is very lush and there are coconut groves, banana and sugar cane plantations and paddy rice fields. As you move north of the river towards KV Kuppam the water table drops and the ground rises. Wells have to be deeper and this is expensive. Less ground can be irrigated and many fields are left dry and barren.

Over the last few years farmers have had to cope with less and less water, due to the failure of the monsoon and many small farmers have been unable to make a living. As there is very little rainfall they can only grow crops when they have enough water to irrigate their fields. If they didn't have access to a well with a pump they would find it impossible to grow anything other than one crop of peanuts or lentils during the short monsoon season. Even when water is available some farmers nearer the town of Vellore have problems with pollution from the local leather tanneries.

South Indian crops include

* Paddy rice
* Coconuts
* Bananas
* Sugar cane
* Ground nuts (peanuts)
* Ragi-a type of millet
* Lentils such as red gram

A local farmer uses bullocks to plough his field.

Precious water is pumped from Wells into channels to irrigate the farmer's fields.

Coconut trees are watered by irrigation channels.

Babu begins planting crops in his irrigated field.

Flowers and edible crops are grown when water is available.

Family and friends help to plant the paddy.

The rice is almost ready for harvesting.

Harvesting is often done by hand.

Rice stalks, after having been threshed are used for animal fodder.

Sometimes machines are used for threshing.

Small farm crops are usually threshed by passing traffic.

Grains are winnowed by hand.

The goat herds return from the fields before dark.

Feeding the family cow.

Alemelu's house and yard is over run with chicks.

Adding water to the Biogas Digester tank.

A family shrine to celebrate Pongal harvest festival, with turmeric, coconut, bananas and sugar cane.

Challenges!