Palm-tree staircase in Thoothukudi offers hope for a fading profession

Palm trees have sustained rural livelihoods in Tamil Nadu for generations, providing pathaneer (palm sap), nungu (ice apple), palm fruit, and karupatti (palm jaggery).

But today, the biggest challenge facing palm growers is not the trees themselves—it is the shortage of skilled climbers.

In Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, one farmer has come up with an unusual solution that could help preserve this traditional occupation.

Dinakaraj built a spiral iron staircase around a 55-foot palm tree, making climbing safer, easier, and less physically demanding. He hopes the innovation will encourage more people, especially younger generations, to take up palm cultivation and tapping.

The staircase may look unconventional, but it is an attempt to address a growing labour shortage that has forced many palm groves across the state into neglect.

A disappearing trade

Palm tree climbing was once a common skill in villages across Tamil Nadu. However, as younger generations move towards other professions, finding experienced climbers has become increasingly difficult.

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"Earlier, everyone in our village climbed palm trees. Today, there is no one to do it. People have chosen other professions. I realised the real problem was the shortage of climbers. That's when I thought of building steps around the tree. This was also my father's last palm grove, so I wanted to preserve it," Dinakaraj told The Federal.

Instead of abandoning the grove, he decided to invest in an innovative solution that could make palm tree climbing accessible to more people.

A practical idea

Dinakaraj invested Rs 60,000 to construct the spiral staircase around the palm tree. Although the initial estimate was Rs 45,000, he went ahead with the project to create a working model.

The structure took five days to complete, with three welders building a design they had never attempted before. According to Dinakaraj, the staircase makes climbing significantly faster, safer and less exhausting than traditional methods.

"The staircase cost me Rs 60,000. Initially, they estimated Rs 45,000, but I still went ahead because I wanted to create a model. The sap itself is worth around Rs 1 lakh. We can recover the investment within a year, and the staircase can last for about 15 years. Now I'm planning to install similar stairways on more palm trees," he said.

Looking ahead

Beyond improving safety, Dinakaraj believes the staircase also makes economic sense by reducing dependence on skilled climbers and increasing productivity.

Traditionally, palm tree climbing required years of experience and involved considerable risk. With the staircase, he believes even beginners can learn the trade after being trained in tapping the sap.

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"Anyone can climb this staircase. We only need to teach them how to tap the sap. Earlier, one person could manage about 10 trees. With this, they can handle around 30. Palm trees gave us our livelihood—pathaneer, karupatti, nungu and much more. I want young people to take up this trade again and create employment," said Dinakaraj.

Whether the spiral staircase becomes a model for palm growers across Tamil Nadu remains to be seen. But in one village in Thoothukudi, a simple innovation is offering a possible way to preserve a profession that has supported rural communities for generations.