Pollachi Farmers Use Climate Sensors to Explore Crop Alternatives

Quick Summary

• Farmers in Kottur village, Pollachi, coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu have installed a real-time weather tracking system to monitor climate variations affecting coconut crops.
• The initiative aims to generate weather data for crop planning and assess alternatives to coconut cultivation amidst the threat of Root Wilt Disease.
• Root Wilt Disease impacts approximately 10 lakh coconut trees in three blocks: Anamalai, Pollachi South and North. Nearly 1 lakh severely infected trees have been removed since they threaten surrounding healthy ones.
• The disease is caused by phytoplasma microorganisms transmitted by vectors like leafhoppers and whiteflies. Changing climatic conditions contribute to its spread.
• Experts from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) recommend removing infected plants while exploring diversification into fruits and spices through continuous micro-climate monitoring.
• Farmers are piloting low-cost solar-powered sensors developed by Bengaluru-based Phytec. These devices record temperature, humidity, rainfall, and solar radiation at one-kilometre intervals and relay data through independent networks unaffected by mobile signals.
• TNAU is evaluating Cococon (an injectable formulation),trialing chemical treatments for productivity advancement,studying resistant varieties of coconuts,and testing the suitability of choice crops for long-term agricultural sustainability.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This initiative exemplifies how technology-driven solutions can empower farmers in tackling climate-dependent agricultural challenges.By generating location-specific environmental data without relying on external mobile infrastructure or government aid initially, these farmers showcase proactive stakeholder engagement critical for managing emerging threats like Root Wilt Disease. While diversification into fruits and spices could help mitigate dependency risks on coconut farming long-term economic viability must still be assessed given existing large-scale value chains tied heavily toward coconuts/Coir economy massively locally impacting those regions economy laakiin entire opening healthier backups safekeeping bargaining chips crop resilience upto eventuality

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