Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Focus on coconut growers' income

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: Apart from devising strategies to control mite attack on coconut trees and expanding area of cultivation, the Coconut Development Board focusses on raising the growers' income by encouraging inter-crops.

"We are concentrating on income generation and rejuvenation of soil. Cultivation of crops such as pepper, banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables in coconut plantations will help raise growers' income," Chairperson of the board Minnie Mathew told presspersons here on Sunday.

This had been tried out successfully at Karunagappally in Kerala and the growers' income rose from 23 per cent to 80 per cent. Besides, there was stress on a group approach to marketing the produce as this would help reduce costs.

Ms. Mathew claimed there was a decline in the mite attack due to spraying of pesticide. Studies by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) had also claimed that the intensity of the attack had come down substantially in a year. Spraying and improvement in natural conditions had helped in controlling the problem.

As for increase of area under coconut, she said the area expansion programme of the Board had met with success only in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and parts of the State. There was no land in Kerala for expansion.

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