Drumsticks wither after shutdown 2.0, Tirupur cultivators in limbo

There are several drumstick cultivators in the district as it requires minimum care and would grow even on arid lands. Both drumstick pods and leaves are ready to be harvested now. “Shortage in farm labour, closure of markets and transportation issues following lockdown has hit the farmers hard. Left with no other option, the pods are withering away,” said Lingasamy, a farmer.

Having incurred a huge loss, the farmers have now been demanding the district administration to procure drumsticks directly from them through horticulture department and sell them through mobile vegetable units. Drumstick is cultivated widely in Moolanur, Muthoor, Upparu, Dharapuram and Vellakovil areas in the district.

“Farmers were cultivating drumstick even in water-starved areas by adopting drip irrigation method. They are now staring at a severe financial strain as their produce could not be sold for a reasonable price. Normally, about 30 tonnes of drumstick pods would be sent to other districts across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka daily. This has come to a halt following the shutdown,” said Pala Ragupathi, organiser of ‘Nermai Makkal Iyakkam.’ Drumstick pods and moringa leaves are known for their medicinal properties and are said to cure several ailments.