Agricultural Related Activities

AGRICULTURAL RELATED ACTIVITIES

1. Tillage

Since the Sangam period, the Tamils have been experts in knowing the nature of the land and preparing it for cultivation. They knew the nature of the land and acted accordingly.

They ploughed the land. By ploughing like that, the soil got more air and increased the germination of crops. By ploughing, irrigation, repairing the ridges with 'thalambu' ('parambu') and mixing the mud, the long-term water retention capacity is increased.

Pon Air Formation Event

It is a traditional custom of the farmers to plough the land on the birth of chithirai month. This is called 'Pon air formation', Mathi air or Naller.

Proof

In Silapathikaram, this festival is written under the title 'Air Mangalam'.

2. Irrigation

During the Sangam period, people mainly depended on rain for the water needed for agriculture. Then, they created ponds, lakes, dams, etc., to store water. Later, sluices, Kumizhithoombugal were constructed to regulate the water for irrigation. Sometimes, to control the river floods and to divert water for irrigation, earthen embankments were raised. Finally, the water stored in reservoirs was used for irrigation. Finally, water stored in reservoirs was used for the purposes of irrigation through canals.

People learned to dig wells and use ground water for agriculture as early as the Sangam period. They used cattle for drawing water from wells.

3. Manuring (or) Application of Natural Fertilizers

Mostly in ploughed lands only natural fertilizers were used during the Sangam period. They used natural fertilizers to the fields before and after ploughing. Green manures are still in use today. Fertilizer crops such as Pasunthal, Thakkai Poondu, Agathi, Sanappai, Billi, Avuri were used. Cattle dung was used as manure on the ploughed lands.

Proof: Kaliththogai 108-60

4. Selection of Seeds

Even in the Sangam period, Tamils realized how important in agriculture. It is to select seeds and protect them from pests. In the Purananooru song below, it is mentioned that the seeds were dried and then used for sowing.

Proof: Purananooru

5. Planting Seedlings

A small part of land, tilled with mud was down and grown well.

6. Planting

The seedlings raised in the nursery were uprooted and then planted in the fields. The Sangam verses indicate that people planted saplings early in the morning.

7. Weeding

It can be known that women have been doing planting of seedlings and weeding since the Sangam period. Weeding has been carried out by hand in Nansei Land. But, the weed is cut with a weeder in Punsei land.

8. Protection

The following proves confirm that the upper paran (Thinaipunam) protected the cultivated lands from above with a variety of implements. The tradition of fencing around agricultural lands also existed during the Sangam period.

Proofs

Thazhal 1. Agananooru188:11

Thattai 2. Kurunthogai 193:2

Kulir 3. Kurinchi 43

Sunai 4. Nartinai 393.4

9. Harvest

They were harvested when the crop matured. The harvested paddy was brought to the field and threshed to separate the paddy grains. Paddy grains were collected, weighed and stored in proper containers.

10. Post-Harvest Operations

After harvesting, the sril is ploughed before the moisture dries. Crop rotation was followed in the Sangam period itself. For example, cotton and small grains were grown in the same season. After that, broad beans were cultivated. Small grains were cultivated in the Kurinji lands. Kosala country farmers cultivated paddy. At the same time, they cultivated various crops.