Set up lab at Veppankulam instead of Eachankottai, coconut farmers’ association pleads with T.N. govt.

The East-Coast Coconut Farmers’ Association has urged the State government to set up the proposed Bio-Control Laboratory for Rugose Spiralling Whitefly at Veppankulam in Pattukottai taluk in Thanjavur district instead of at Eachankottai in Orathanadu taluk.

In a memorandum addressed to the State government and submitted to the Thanajvur district administration, the association said Orathanadu taluk, where the proposed laboratory was to come up at the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Agricultural College and Research Institute, Eachangkottai, was not a significant coconut-growing zone. Establishing a laboratory there would limit its impact and accessibility to farmers who cultivate coconut substantially in nearby taluks in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukottai districts.

Hence, the association claimed that setting up the Bio-Control Laboratory at the Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam, located amidst the major coconut-growing taluks such as Peravurani and Pattukkottai in Thanajvur district, Mannargudi, and Muthupettai in Tiruvarur district and Alangudi and Aranthangi in Pudukottai district would serve the purpose since the location offers strategic relevance and infrastructure.

Further, the research station already served as a hub for coconut growers. Therefore, the association pleaded with the government to reconsider its decision and change the site of the new laboratory for the benefit of coconut farmers.