An hour north west up the Coimbatore road from Madurai lies the village of Vadipatti, one of India’s 600,000, tucked under the soaring slopes of the Sirumalai hills. Above, in the high, scrub-covered mountains live the Irula tribal people, but here on the fertile and well-watered plain a plethora of crops is grown, and it is here that Love & Care India have bought 10 acres of land.
At last the roar of Madurai is left behind. Indian Blue Jays decorate the power lines, and colourful
butterflies flit among the aloe flowers.
We arrived to the smoke of a barbecue, to find two Bible College students caretaking until a permanent couple can be found. There is a small house, western toilets, and good water.
Well equipped and productive
Fenced (with impressive gates and stone fence-posts), four water bores for irrigation, and cheap 3-phase power supply, the land is host to 65 coconut palms, 300 young teak trees and 780 mature sapotas. These currently produce half a tonne of fruit every two weeks (worth £70), but although they provide an interim income, it isn’t the delicious fruit that Love and Care are interested in.
John Arul has a vision to establish a major dairy unit here, with 200 cows. The purpose? Every two cows can produce enough income to keep two children! Already 22 cows have been purchased, some of which are already in full milk at the Madurai orphanage, under the care of the herdsman. The goal is to take the orphanages a step down the road towards self-sufficiency.
In the future John hopes to buy much more land – it truly is a delightful place – and build not just a dairy but retreat centre as well. I am booked in already!
