The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, will organise the eighth edition of Uzhave Thalai, a conference for farmers, on July 9, at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex.The focus this year is on augmenting the income of farmers through multiple initiatives.Chamber president Rajesh B. Lund, secretary N. Pradeep, vice-president C. Dorairaj, N, Manisundar, advisor to the agri committee of the chamber, and Saravanan Chandrasekaran, agri committee member, told reporters on Monday that the event this year will focus on agri tourism, vertical farming, automated irrigation, cocoa as an inter-crop in coconut groves.Ten speakers who are all farmers who have developed their farms into exemplary models in these areas will address the participants in the day long event to be held as part of Agri Intex this year.The Chamber plans to submit its suggestions to the Tamil Nadu government after the event on the need for an agri tourism policy for the State, on the lines of Maharashtra. It is also encouraging micro farmers to go in for vertical farming and automated irrigation systems through which they can feed nutrients too to the crops.Coconut is a water-consuming crop and farmers need to look at inter-crops such as pepper, cocoa, and avocado to augment their income, the organisers said.Pollachi Valluvan, who has been recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN as a soil farmer hero, will also address the participants. About 300 farmers are expected to take part in the conference and the registration fee is ₹600 a person. The event will be a platform for the farmers to get mentors and share knowledge, they said. Published - July 06, 2026 08:36 pm IST