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Coconut farmers advised to take up group farming

Staff Reporter

Coconut Development Board plans project to tackle bud rot disease

KOZHIKODE: Coconut farmers in Kozhikode district have been advised to adopt a change in strategy of production practices and take up cluster approach or group farming to keep pace with the highly competitive market segment, said Mini Mathew, chairperson, Coconut Development Board (CDB).

Ms. Mathew was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on `Coconut farming,' organised by the Central Coconut Development Board and the Kozhikode district committee of Kera Karshaka Sangham, at Purakatairi, Thalakulathur grama panchayat, near here, on March 17.

"Input management has become vital to make the coconut sector more competitive. The strategy suggested is to go in for cluster approach or group farming. At present, one of the major problems faced by coconut farmers in the State is the high cost of production and lack of marketable surplus. This can change with a difference in strategy. Groups of farmers can involve in cultivation and generate a surplus marketable supply.

"Greater product diversification is another vital aspect. While copra and coconut oil are viable propositions, they are not as attractive now.

Product diversification has therefore become imperative, though farmers in the district are averse to harvesting tender coconuts.

"On an average, a coconut farmer has in possession 50 cents of land. The yield would at best be 200 coconuts. Of these, 20 to 30 coconuts are taken by the farmer for his own use. What is remaining is abysmally low for entering a competitive market."

Substantial reduction in the cost of production such as for applying manure, pest control measures, procurement and transport, can be effected if 50 to 100 framers club together the land at their disposal. With the surplus supply so achieved, it would be possible to enter the global market set-up, she said.

Ms. Mathew also highlighted the changed market scenario, as ASEAN countries with similar conditions as in India have entered the world agriculture market in a big way.

The CDB is implementing a Rs.1.3-crore programme to tackle bud rot disease among coconut palms in the district. The board is reviewing the implementation of this project.

I.V. Shashangan, district committee president of Kera Karshaka Sanghom and P.G.Velayudhan Nair, secretary, were among those who spoke at the inaugural session.

Prominent coconut farmers of the district were honoured on the occasion. Lectures on diversification of coconut products, scientific methods of farming, pest control measures and welfare projects of the CDB were delivered on the occasion.

Thomas Mathew and Rajeev George of CDB addressed the classes.

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