Ariyalur Irula Families Harvest 96400 Kg of Cashew Under Government Scheme

Over 230 Irula tribal families across the Jayankondam, Udayarpalayam, and Andimadam regions of Ariyalur district have successfully transitioned to sustainable livelihoods by harvesting 96,400 kg of raw cashew nuts during the 2025-26 season. This initiative, supported by the Tribal Welfare and Forest Departments, enabled the families to overcome traditional public auction barriers and secure a five-year lease on 549.21 hectares of cashew plantations.

The project, which has been running for the last four years, was launched to help Irula families who traditionally relied on precarious seasonal jobs like wild honey collection. To provide stable employment, the Tribal Welfare Department partnered with the Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation Limited (TAFCORN).

Historically, TAFCORN cashew plantations were inaccessible to tribal communities due to the high Earnest Money Deposit required for public auctions. To resolve this, the Tribal Welfare Department provided ₹86 lakh in financial assistance under the Tholkudi Livelihood Scheme. This funding secured a five-year lease starting in 2022 for Irula tribal welfare societies.

To ensure the success of the initiative, the Directorate of Cashew Research in Puttur, Karnataka, provided members with technical training in plantation management, pest control, and scientific harvesting.

During the recent 2025-26 harvest season, which ran from January to April, the initiative generated ₹1.37 crore in revenue and a net profit of ₹45.48 lakh. The raw cashews were marketed directly to wholesale buyers, while the remaining stock was sent to a modern cashew processing facility in Koovagam village. This processing centre currently employs 164 tribal women.

The earnings provided participating families with an average net income of nearly ₹19,800. Additionally, society members received a daily wage of ₹350 during the four-month harvesting period.

Local residents have noted a significant shift in their quality of life. G. Ramesh of Vettiyarvettu village stated that the initiative allowed them to lease and cultivate the land themselves, making them feel like owners rather than daily wage labourers. D. Annadurai of Sozhankurichi village added that the project has provided stable employment and net profits, replacing their previous unreliable income as agricultural labourers.

According to official sources, the state government is planning to establish another cashew processing unit in the district to further support the initiative. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, called the project a transformational and synergistic effort between the government and local communities.