Trichy: Thanneer starts collecting palmyrah palm seeds for plantation

TRICHY: As palmyrah palm seeds have started falling from trees in the last few days, members of Thanneer - a city based environmental organisation have started collecting these seeds.
Over 1,000 seeds were collected by a team of Thanneer on Saturday from around K Sathanur tank and Kanakankulam in Trichy. These seeds will be planted on the banks of water bodies and barren land in the district.
Palmyrah palm being state tree of Tamil Nadu, its numbers have significantly come down in the recent years. Thanneer started a campaign on palmyrah plantation in 2015 and since then over 20000 seeds have been sown so far.
Over 80 percent of seeds survived and are in different stages of its growth across the district, says Secretary of Thanneer, K C Neelamegam.
He said, last year they had to purchase Palmyrah palm seeds from Salem. Therefore, this year they chose to start collecting them. “Fortunately, people are guiding us on our way on the places where we can find the seeds,” he said.
While collecting seeds, we could also witness the growth of the trees that we had sown a few years back, says K Sathish Kumar, a faculty with Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts.
Also, a member of Thanneer, he said it will take at least 10 years to bear fruits. “While every part of Palmyrah palm is useful in some way or the other, these trees can store enormous water under them besides, strengthening bunds if planted on the banks of water bodies,” he said.