ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore promotes Nutrition, Health and Jaggery Entrepreneurship among Attappady tribals

22 June 2026, Coimbatore

In a significant initiative aimed at improving the nutrition, health and livelihood opportunities of tribal communities, the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, in association with ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palakkad, organized a comprehensive awareness campaign at Melachootra hamlet in the Attappady hills of Kerala today. The programme was conducted under the Institute’s Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribe Component (DAPSTC) project.

Addressing the gathering, representatives of the DAPSTC project highlighted the high prevalence of anaemia among tribal populations in Attappady. It was noted that more than 70 per cent of adolescent girls in the region are affected by anaemia, largely due to poor nutritional intake. To address this challenge, ICAR-SBI has been promoting practical interventions such as the distribution of vegetable seed kits for kitchen gardens, millet seeds, and institute-produced liquid jaggery to improve household nutrition.

The encouraging performance of the new sugarcane variety Co 14012, demonstrated through a Frontline Demonstration plot in Melachootra hamlet, was also highlighted. Confidence was expressed that the proposed establishment of a small-scale jaggery production unit by ICAR-KVK, Palakkad would create new livelihood opportunities and motivate more tribal farmers to take up sugarcane cultivation.

Shri M. Govindaraj, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Agali, informed farmers about the Kerala Government’s “Area Expansion of Sugarcane” scheme, which offers financial assistance of up to ₹20,000 per hectare for farmers adopting sugarcane cultivation. He urged tribal farmers to make use of the scheme to enhance farm income and strengthen local sugarcane production.

ICAR-KVK, Palakkad, highlighted the continued collaborative efforts being undertaken by ICAR-KVK, ICAR-SBI, and the State Department of Agriculture to promote sugarcane cultivation and value-added enterprises in the region.

The technical sessions featured expert presentations on agriculture, health, and entrepreneurship. Experiences in the production and successful marketing of Alangadan jaggery were shared, highlighting its potential as a rural enterprise. Participants were also trained on establishing and managing household nutrition gardens using the vegetable seed kits distributed during the programme.

Guidance on health and hygiene was provided to tribal women, along with instructions on the proper use of the first-aid kits supplied during the campaign. A session on balanced fertilizer use and sustainable crop nutrition management was also conducted as part of the programme.

A demonstration on seed treatment of Ragi seeds with liquid bio-fertilizers viz., Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria was carried out, as part of Khet Bachao abhiyan.

Representatives of the tribal community, expressed their gratitude to the organizing institutions for conducting awareness programmes on topics directly relevant to their well-being. They also appreciated the distribution of useful inputs and equipment, including farm tools, house-hold items, liquid jaggery, radio sets, first-aid kits and quality seed materials.

A highlight of the programme was a community pledge taken by more than 150 tribal participants against malnutrition, reaffirming their commitment to improving the nutritional status and overall well-being of women and children in their villages.

The campaign brought together more than 150 tribal residents and focused on addressing critical issues such as malnutrition, anaemia, nutrition security, health awareness and entrepreneurship development through agriculture-based interventions.

(Source: ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore)