Chennai: Kolli hills may provide an idyllic backdrop for a quiet sojourn but agriculture in this otherwise backward area requires support from the government and NGOs, according to Nicholas Wesley Grandstaff, World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern 2016, from the US.
This 18-year-old student from Iowa had stayed at Thuvarapallam village in Kolli hills in Namakkal district for 60 days as part of the international intern programme. He was assisted by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in his quest for understanding the livelihood and food security pattern in Thuvarapallam.
“Human capital is the greatest barrier for Thuvarapallam and is decreasing with issues related to food insecurity,” he said. Government and NGO intervention is needed to improve the livelihood opportunities of the farmers.
“Agriculture, unlike in Iowa where my father has been farming for over 32 years (on his own), is a team work here. Food crops need to be cultivated on large portions. They are under-cultivated (now). Though cash crops boost farmers’ income the most, families are often at the whims of market where their net income is determined,” he said.
Nicholas shared his experience at a seminar: Understanding Livelihoods & Food Security in Thuvarapallam: A scenic village of the Kolli Hills, India from the perspective of Value Chains and Livelihood Capitals, in the presence of MSSRF founder Prof. M.S. Swaminathan on Wednesday. Nicholas survived on dosa, chappatis, roti, vegetarian and non-vegetarian gravies during his stay at the village.
