Manjal – Turmeric
One such crop is turmeric, which is completely cultivated in organic method. Local variety is used with less seed rate of about 8 quintals/ac and it yields about 5000 q/ac that is the special features of this variety. The apt season for growing the crop is Puratasi, Iypasi (October-November). This variety has the advantage of withstanding in more rainfall and mitigating from root  rot / wilt diseases. It needs about 20 loads/ac of farmyard manure for best result in field.

During Thai (January), the leaves will turn yellow which is the indication for time of harvest. Thereafter, during Vaikasi (May) it is harvested. An implement called ‘Manjal kothi’ does  harvest the manjal. It is similar to hand hoe, but the handle is comparatively longer. Leaves are cut by using sickle and then, this manjal kothi is used and rhizomes are dug out. Harvested rhizomes are dried in shade for 2-3 days and stored. Such post harvest practice enhances the quality of the rhizome. This field is interrupted with onion during chithirai (May). Onion crop is grown in the furrows, and turmeric on ridges. If onion is inter cropped, then turmeric is harvested during Masi (February)