Tools and Techniques required for Agriculture

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES REQUIRED FOR AGRICULTURE

Cultivation was done in a very systematic way during the Sangam period. Ploughing, sowing, fertilizing, weeding, irrigation and crop protection were done properly and people were leading a rich life. They made and used various tools needed for agriculture for ploughing and harvesting.

1. Kalappai

Air was called Airai, Meli, Nanjil, Kalappai. The Air (Kalappai) was made of wood or iron or steel frame with a sharp unit and used to till the land. Cattle were used to loosen the soil.

2. Parambu

A tool called wooden pole or plank was used to level the land to be cultivated without ridges or ditches.

3. Palliyaduthal (or) Pallukkai Steering

It was used to remove weeds and to reduce crop density. It consists of metal or wooden teeth mounted on a wooden frame. This frame was used to clear the field of wield with the help of cattle.

4. Thalambu

While ploughing the Nansei land, a tool called 'Thalambu' was used to break up the clods formed.

5. Kavalaiyertam (or) Kabilai

Kabilai refers to cattle. Farmers used a technology called Kabilai to draw water from deep wells for irrigation.

The water pumping container is made of skin called-Pari. It is also made of tin. The poles having the rotating wheel are firmly fitted into the stone so that they extend into the well. By connecting the container, Thondan, etc., they pull the cow with the help of a wheel to make the water to pour out. Blocking the water path with black slabs to allow cattle to pass back and forth is perhaps the greatest engineering technology.

6. Water Drawing Tools

There are two types of water according to hydrology. They are

i) Secretion Water

ii) Surface Water

i) Secretion Water

As underground water is hidden, it is called secretion water.

ii) Surface Water

The water that flows automatically from ponds, lakes and puddles is called surface water.

Run off water and water that was drawn were used for irrigation using booms. This is illustrated by the following song from Porunar Aartupadai. The term 'boom' is still in use in the villages.

Proof: Porunar Aartupadi Book

Types of Booms

i) Box Booming

The land near the creek is slightly elevated. A triangular basket made of bamboo is tied at both ends with a rope and two people hold it on either side and one person stands on the bank and pulls the water. This is called Box Booming.

ii) Man Booming

Man Booming is used for shallow wells to a slightly deeper location.

By one or two persons walking on a single stone rotating long pole, the water goes into the container and it rises up. The man on the bank pulls the vertical pole with a rope and diverts the water into the channel.

Proof: There is a story connecting the Man Booming and Kambar, the poet. The boomer sings a song.

It is said in the Sangam literature that Kambar was astonished when he heard this song.

7. Weight Bearing

While digging a well, heavy lifting is a method used in rural areas to take out the well soil.

A tall pole is tied on the bank of the well. A lever is mounted on the shaft. The pole is tied with a rope from the tip.

It is connected in such a way that the horizontal pole rotates on the vertical pole. When the load comes above, it is pulled to the ground through a rope.

8. Catapult

They used catapults called Kavans to repel animals and birds. It is said that catapult can be used to target and kill an animal.

9. Sickle

The sickle was used to harvest the ripe paddy and corn kernals.

10. Sugarcane Squeezer

A sugarcane squeezer was used to cut the harvested sugarcane and extract the juice from it. Purananooru mentions this.

11. Loud Speaker

Young women, Kuravan, Kurathis used sound making instruments to drive away the birds.

12. Flares and Blowers

Flares and blowers were used to drive away wild animals especially elephants from the fields.

13. Sacks

Grains such as paddy, corn and rye were harvested, sprinkled in the field and stored in sacks.