Agriculture is an integral part of ashram activity. Ever since our founder established the ashram the builders of the institution gradually acquired nearby lands for furthering the activities either through donation or direct purchase in small areas. Thanks to their efforts and today we have nearly 25 acres of land distributed in four different areas namely,
1. Puduvayal with an area of 5 acres. It is located adjacent to Kallupatti tank and intended for paddy, cotton or pulses cultivation. We have a well and a bore well.
2. Square wellwell area about 7to 8 acres opposite the ashram. It has a open well and a bore well. The land is fit for production of pulses, vegetables and fodder.
3.Palathotam with an area of nearly 8 acres. It has a well with low yield of water. It is fit for toddler like cholam depending on rains.
4. Land around our leather section with an area of nearly 5 acres. It is a dry land with a low yielding open well. We have planted around 350 value added trees as a long term project.
We have laid pipe lines for irrigation in puduvayal and land opposite to ashram. Though all the lands are used for varying agriculture activities the income is still not satisfactory. We plan to make it more profitable and at the same we want to produce vegetables and fruits for the hostel and the staff of the institution with marginal profits.
But these lands are very useful for our agri practices students in our higher secondary school who work in these lands as part of their agri practicals.
This needs a special mention. An area of waste land in our campus about one acre was converted into a cultivable land. In the year 2007 we decided to create an organic lemon garden with the help of Mr. Antanisamy a well know organic farmer from Thirunelveli district. We deputed Mr. S. Raghavan our science teacher to learn organic farming. He with the guidance and generous help of Mr.Antanisamy we planted over 100 lemon saplings. This was watered with drip irrigation in the same year. Over the years this has become an ideal organic lemon garden and the yield is good though it has taken a few years. It is fully maintained by our students under the guidance of the teacher.
