Thoothukudi women sell palm nectar at Collectorate

Women self-help groups (SHGs) have begun selling palm nectar, known as "padhaneer," at the Thoothukudi Collectorate. This initiative started on Thursday and will continue weekly. The SHGs offer a variety of homemade products, including vegetable pickles, fish and prawn pickles, palm jaggery, and decorative items made from palm leaves. With summer approaching, the sale of padhaneer has started. Members from the Alwarthirunagari Farmers Producer Group, part of the "Vaazhnthu Kaattuvom" scheme, are leading these sales. They buy the palm nectar directly from local farmers. A 500 ml bottle of padhaneer costs ₹50, while a one-liter bottle is sold for ₹100. Customers include collectorate employees and visitors. On their first day, the SHG members bought 16 liters of palm nectar, which they sold out completely. Encouraged by this success, they plan to increase their procurement and sales in the coming days.