Author: Catherine Gilon
Sacred groves guarded by village deities need human help
Tamil Nadu’s disappearing sacred groves host some of the last remaining patches of critically endangered tropical dry evergreen forests, which - though guarded by the gods - need human help restoring them.
Farming proves therapeutic to the intellectually challenged
Varied activities in the residential farm helps those with intellectual disabilities calm down and learn many social and life skills, besides offering a livelihood
Farmers cash in on demand for immunity boosters
With no signs of the coronavirus infection abating, moringa farmers in Tamil Nadu use the increasing demand for natural immunity boosters to their advantage, by value addition
Scientist ropes in coastal communities for marine conservation
Creating awareness about mangrove and seagrass ecosystems among coastal communities, and facilitating additional income for them, a marine scientist involves them in conservation
Fishermen brace themselves to sail through COVID-19 storm
With the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, fishermen and women whose livelihood depend on a daily catch find it hard to meet household needs
Coastal farmers harvest riches with hardy vetiver
Farmers in India’s east coast, which is vulnerable to cyclones and floods, have found commercial success by growing vetiver, a perennial grass also known as khus that has a variety of uses
Farmers repurpose bore wells for rainwater harvesting
With abandoned bore wells turning hazardous for children, farmers in Tamil Nadu are on a voluntary drive to convert them into rainwater harvesting structures
Farmers revert to traditional bio-fences for multiple benefits
Trees and thorny cacti that served as fences protecting crops from cattle, as wind breakers conserving soil moisture, besides providing fertilizer and fodder, are making a comeback in Tamil Nadu
Cattle farmers revive traditional herbal remedies
Farmers in Tamil Nadu are switching to traditional remedies for cattle because ethno-veterinary medicine made with locally available herbs are more effective in controlling diseases at minimal cost
Tamil women bank on herbs to boost income
Women in rural Villupuram have quit working as farm labor and have become herbal entrepreneurs to conserve traditional knowledge, revive use of healthy herbs and boost household incomes
Food forests offer better profits to farmers
Mimicking forests, progressive farmers across India have started transforming farms into a layered cropping system that is climate resilient and more productive
Tamil farmers innovate to overcome fodder shortage
Faced with a shortage of cattle feed, farmers in several districts of Tamil Nadu have adopted offbeat solutions that not only bring feeding costs down but also increase the yields of milk
Future looks up for palmyra tree climbers of Tamil Nadu
Increasing awareness on the goodness of palm products and sustainable living associated with it has brought hope to Tamil Nadu’s palm climbers, despite dwindling numbers of the state tree