Indian Institute of Horticultural Research to procure seeds from Pachamalai farmers

A seed village scheme has been launched under the Tolkudiyinar Velanmai Melanmai Thittam, called Project Ainthinai, at the Pachamalai hills in Tiruchi district.

Tribal farmers will cultivate vegetables exclusively for seed production under the initiative and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, will directly procure the seeds from farmers — a pioneering model being introduced in the hill region.

The State Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare was implementing the project in association with the IIHR to empower the tribal community through various sustainable farming initiatives.

The three-year project, which commenced in 2024-2025, will cover about 250 tribal farmers. The project aims to enhance their livelihood opportunities through vegetables and fruits cultivation.

Under a MoU signed with the Department of Adi Dravidar Tribal Welfare, the IIHR supplies high-quality seeds and other inputs to the tribal farmers. Seeds and seedlings of various vegetables, including tomatoes, chillies, greens and fruits such as papaya and mango have been distributed to the farmers, officials said.

The Director of IIHR, Tusar Kanti Behera, recently visited the hills to inspect the farms and inaugurate a training programme on raising kitchen garden for women tribal farmers and seed production.

The programme included a field visit, where participants inspected farms where tomatoes and chillies had been raised by local farmers under the guidance of IIHR scientists. Each farmer were provided with a seed kit containing eight vegetable varieties along with essential inputs. About 125 farmers participated in the training.

The training was inaugurated by D. Rangarajan, Project Officer, Tribal Welfare, Tiruchi, in the presence of Mr. Behera, R. Senthilkumar and V. Shankar, IIHR scientists, S. Ponvaithiyanathan, Project Manager, Tribal Welfare, D. Balu, Honorary consultant, G. Prabhu, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Chinnadurai, Project Assistant, and other officials.