K. Manivannan (40), a mechanical engineer holding managerial post in automotive sector, is showing how certain calculated manoeuvres and patience can make one succeed in dates cultivation, defying the climatic odds stacked up against the crop in the district.

He not only succeeded in getting good harvest using only organic manures and insecticides, but also able to build a brand name of his own for the produces within a short span of time.

It all began four years ago when Mr. Manivannan decided to utilise the two acre he inherited from his late father, who was a farmer, at Pongalur for agriculture, after a gap of 15 years. “Since employed as an engineer, I cannot compete with others by crops such as paddy, vegetables and maize that are primarily cultivated in the district which all needed daily attention. So I chose date palms for two reasons: even though climatic conditions and marketing prospects are unfavourable, I wanted to excel in a lesser explored terrain, and also only very little of my physical presence needed at the field level for the crop. Moreover, dates are rich in dietary fibre and nutritious,” he said.

He selected the Independence Day in 2011 to plant 150 palms and it started giving yield in the third year. “An interesting aspect was that break even of the capital investment has been achieved in second year itself. The yield also increases year by year and attains the maximum in seven years,” he said.

Since the atmosphere temperature in Tirupur from December to February when the palms usually flower, is around 19 to 20 degree Celsius in night, Manivannan uses sprayers to water the flowers which is essential.

“During the flowering time, the temperature in the area should be ideally down to 16 degree Celsius”.

The organic dates produced at his farm are now marketed under a brand name through four outlets he opened in Tirupur district. “I am planning to open outlets in Coimbatore district too soon”, he said.