Tamil Nadu   

Farmers urge Government to stop copra import

Thanjavur: Thanjavur District Coconut Growers Association has appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to impress upon the Central Government to stop copra import from other countries to save the domestic coconut farmers.

In a memorandum sent on behalf of the association, A. Palanivel, former member of Coconut Development Board and Coir Board said that Coconut is grown on 8,50,000 acres by 10 lakh farmers. 20 lakh farm labourers benefit out of it.

In Thanjavur district alone, coconut is grown on 68,000 acres by 75,000 farmers. Two lakh farm labourers benefit from it.

Production charge for a coconut is Rs.2.45 paise. From the year 2002 to the end of 2005, a nut was sold at Rs.5 to Rs.7 in the market. From 2006, a nut is sold only for Rs.2.50.

Because of import of copra from other countries, there is a fall in price of coconut oil. Coconut procurement also has come down.

The minimum price announced by Central Government for copra is now Rs.36.20 paise per kilo. Mr. Palanivel appealed to the Chief Minister to take steps to increase this to Rs. 50 per kilo.

For coconut the price should be Rs.7 per nut. He also appealed to the chief minister to establish small drying yards for preparing copra and godowns for storing them.

Farmers who want to produce value added products from copra should be given loans with fifty per cent subsidy.

Insurance cover should also be extended to them. Tender coconut can be procured from farmers and sold through Aavin and other food departments.

Educational tours can be organised for coconut farmers who want to start industries for producing value added products from coconuts to states like Kerala, Karnataka, foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Phillipines and Malaysia.

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