Age is just a number, the one who has courage does not care about the increasing number of his/her age. Today, 105-year-old 'Legendary Women' Pappammal, a woman farmer from Tamil Nadu, is a source of inspiration for all. She was announced to be honored with the Padma Shri Award 2021 on the eve of Republic Day. Pappammal is doing her work very well.
She has been allotted 2.5 acres of land on the banks of the Bhavani River for the cultivation of millets, pulses, vegetables, and corn for organic farming and for making organic manure (she uses different types of crop residues and animal excreta, etc.). also manufactures organic fertilizers) has been honored with the award. At 105, she is possibly the oldest living person from Tamil Nadu to receive the award. They also have their own shop (Provisional Store) and restaurant.
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Pappammal alias Rangamala was born in 1914 to Velammal and Maruthachala Mudaliar in Devalpuram. She lost her parents at an early age, and she and her two sisters were brought up by their maternal grandmother in Thekkampatti village of Coimbatore. She used to run a shop, which was taken forward by Pappammal after her death five decades ago. Also being hardworking and enterprising, Pappammal launched an eatery.
Right from her young age, she was very interested in agriculture and hence she used to spend a lot of time learning various farming methods. Pappammal has not studied beyond Class II, but has attended classes at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for farmers. At the age of 30, she bought 10 acres of land in the village with the income from her shop and restaurant. And started doing organic farming regularly in it.
Pappammal had lost her husband a few decades back. The couple had no children of their own and so raised their sister's three daughters.
Out of the land purchased by her, she distributed three-fourths (7.5 acres) of land among her adopted daughters, in the remaining 2.5 acres of land he himself continued farming. Along with this, they also run Provision Stores and Restaurants parallel.
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An organic farming crusader, Pappammal leaves home at 5:30 every morning to work on her farm without fail.
She is conscious about her health and goes for regular health check-ups (like blood pressure and sugar parameters). She takes great care of her diet and eats her food with pleasure. She always consumes local and fresh produce like millet, green vegetables, etc., and mutton biryani and drinks hot water.
Pappammal has also been active on the political and social front. She was the councilor of her village in 1959. She is a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and an ardent admirer of M. Karunanidhi. She was also invited by TNAU for a special debate.
According to Pappammal, till 60-70 years ago only organic farming was in practice, but then gradually outside companies came, who lured the farmers for more yield, and in the name of chemicals many types of poisons started being put in the crops. But now people in metropolitan cities are becoming more health conscious in a few years, so there is a big change in food habits.
The demand for fruits and vegetables produced by organic farming has increased and the way of income is also opening in it.
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