Highly productive sweet potatoes will now be grown in the farms of the indigenous people of Attappady, who traditionally cultivate sweet potatoes and make them a part of their diet. The Agriculture Division of Kudumbashree has provided this golden opportunity through the remarkable project 'Punarjeevanam', an agricultural entrepreneurship training series in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR - CTCRI). As part of the second phase of the project in Attappady, seeds and planting materials have been distributed to 40 Kudumbashree farmers selected from the Panchayat Samiti of Agali, Puthur, Kurumba and Sholayur.
At a function organized in Agali on 29 November 2024, about two tonnes of enriched high-yielding sweet potato varieties, about 2.5 lakh planting materials, organic fertilizers and organic pesticides required for extensive cultivation were distributed. This activity is a continuation of the three-day training series conducted in connection with the state-level inauguration of the Punarjeevanam project in August.
Kudumbashree aims to address nutritional deficiencies among the indigenous population of Attappady by cultivating enriched sweet potatoes extensively and developing a diet based on it and to ensure economic security by creating new enterprises through value addition of the surplus sweet potatoes. Dr. S. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Farm Livelihood, Kudumbashree inaugurated the function presided over by Shri. B.S. Manoj, Assistant Project Officer, Attappady Special Project implemented by Kudumbashree. Dr. Pradeepika, Dr. Sangeetha, Scientists from the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute trained the farmers on sweet potato cultivation methods, organic fertilizers and organic pesticides.
Ms. Anitha (President, Kurumba Panchayat Samiti), Ms. Selina (President, Sholayur Panchayat Samiti), Ms. Tulasi (President, Puthur Panchayat Samiti), and Ms. Resi (Secretary, Agali Panchayat Samiti) welcomed the farmers and received planting materials. Shri. Akhil Soman (Farm Livelihood Coordinator, Attappady Special Project) welcomed the gathering and Shri. Aliyar (Coordinator, Farm Livelihood Project) delivered the vote of thanks. Farmers, Animators, Community Resource Persons, and Kudumbashree employees participated in the programme.
Through the next phase of the Punarjeevanam project, Kudumbashree aims to distribute planting materials, agricultural equipment and machinery for other tuber crops that have high reproductive potential and are rich in nutrients, developed by the Central Tuber Research Centre.
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Sweet potatoes enriched with sweetness now available in farms of Attappady: A grand start to the second phase of Punarjeevanam