Palm sprouts harvest marks onset of Pongal celebrations for farmers in Ramanathapuram

With the Pongal festival approaching, farmers in Regunathapuram, Ramanathapuram, are working tirelessly to harvest palm sprouts (panankilangu), a seasonal delicacy.

Although January is typically a peak season, farmers report that low rainfall and unfavourable weather have made it difficult to provide the water required for the sprouts to thrive.

Santhosh, a local farmer, explained that palm sprouts are essential for traditional Pongal pujas, alongside paddy, vegetables, and turmeric.

However, he said, the yield has dropped significantly. “After harvesting 3,000 sprouts last year, she managed only 2,000 this year. With 100 sprouts selling for just ₹150 to ₹250, this decrease in production has hit farmers’ incomes hard.”

The crop follows a short cycle—planted in the Tamil month of Aavani and harvested by mid-January.

Local trader N. Dharmaraj noted that while they have shipped close to 1,000 bags to major cities like Madurai and Coimbatore, the overall supply is shrinking as more palm trees are cut down.

He suggested that if the government included palm sprouts in festive gift hampers, it would provide a much-needed economic boost and help save the State’s ailing palmyra sector.

Due to a bumper harvest this year in districts like Udangudi, Erode, and Ramanathapuram, the price of a single palm sprout has dropped from ₹2.50 to ₹2.

While the high yield has led to this price dip, producers are also noticing a slight decline in local demand.

To offset this, traders are shipping large quantities to neighbouring States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, effectively balancing the market and maintaining steady sales despite the local slowdown.