In order to increase toddy production and also towards economic empowerment of toddy tappers, the district administration has decided to encourage the cultivation of stumpy toddy (locally called girikala tallu ) palm trees on a large scale.
Following the instructions of Minister for IT and Municipal Administration K. Taraka Rama Rao, who also represents Sircilla district, the authorities procured the stumpy palm trees and started distributing them to the toddy tappers.
The authorities have decided to plant a total of 12,000 stumpy palm trees in 70 acres of land covering 16 villages in the district.
The district prohibition and excise authorities launched awareness programmes on the importance of growing stumpy palm trees in various parts of the district.
The toddy tappers were apprised about how the stumpy palm tree produces 50 to 70 litres of toddy daily against the ordinary palm trees that produce not more than five litres of toddy per day. District prohibition and excise officer Srinivasulu Naidu said that the stumpy palm trees were abundant in Pakhal of Warangal district. Toddy procured from stumpy palm trees was having a good demand in the market because of its medicinal values, he said and added that the toddy tappers could reap riches by growing them .
Collector D. Krishna Bhaskar said that the stumpy palm trees start producing toddy from the fifth year after the plantation. Every day 50 to 70 litres of toddy is produced for a period of six months in a year benefiting the toddy tapper.
He said that they were planning to provide borewell, pumpsets and drip facilities in the selected villages.
