Farmer: KS Balachandran, Pollachi, TN A Life Rooted in the Soil – Story of KS Balachandran !

Farmer: KS Balachandran, Pollachi, TN A Life Rooted in the Soil – Story of KS Balachandran ! 

In the lush coconut belt of Pollachi, KS Balachandran walks through his farm each morning, tracing the same path his father once did. Farming was not his initial plan—he once considered an engineering career, but his father’s guidance and deep-rooted connection to the land brought him back. After working as a Deputy Agriculture Officer, he returned to his ancestral fields in the 1980s, embracing a life of cultivation over a government desk.

Rather than just inheriting tradition, Balachandran reinvented it. He shifted to coconut farming, ensuring stability through sustainable irrigation and modern techniques. “Coconut trees are dependable. They don’t demand much but give endlessly,” he says. Now 72, he continues to nurture his land while passing down his wisdom to his son, ensuring the family’s legacy thrives.

For Balachandran, farming is more than an economic pursuit—it’s a deeply emotional bond. His farm is a living community, where workers, owners, and even animals coexist in harmony. “Farming isn’t just about crops. We all work together, as one unit, towards the same goal,” he believes. His greatest success isn’t measured in yields but in the livelihoods he sustains and the passion he has instilled in his son.

Having Marico’s Parachute Kalpavriksha Foundation (PKF) as a trusted partner has strengthened this journey. “PKF has helped us improve our farming methods, making our livelihoods sustainable for future generations,” he says.

As the morning sun filters through the coconut trees, Balachandran stands rooted in the land he loves—his legacy woven into the very soil he has nurtured for a lifetime.