Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Boost to coconut farmers in Kollam

Thiruvananthapuram: The Department of Agriculture and the Coconut Development Board have embarked on a project for replanting and rejuvenation of coconut farms in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Thrissur districts.

The revival package enables farmers to avail of assistance to remove all old, unproductive and diseased coconut trees and substitute them with high-yielding varieties over a period of three years. The project is estimated to cost Rs.2,260.86 crore, with a subsidy of Rs.474.51 crore from the Union government.

The scheme involves the felling of 143.4 lakh trees affected by coconut wilt disease, restoration of 1.33 lakh hectares of coconut farm and planting of 71.71 lakh saplings in the three districts.

Farmers will be encouraged to take up integrated management practices like balanced fertilizer application, irrigation and drainage, soil and moisture conservation, organic manure, weed control and promotion of inter cropping.

They can avail of a maximum assistance of Rs.13,000 for a hectare to remove old trees and Rs.15,000 a hectare for restoration of farms. The assistance for replanting is Rs.20 for a sapling. The project will be implemented in Varkala, Attingal and Kazhakuttam blocks in Thiruvananthapuram district, Oachira, Karunagapally and Chavara blocks in Kollam and Chalakudi, Kodakara and Irinjalakuda blocks in Thrissur district.

An official pressnote issued here said the project would be implemented in clusters of 25 to 50 hectares each. Selected farmers in each cluster would be imparted training in identifying diseased trees and in scientific management of coconut palms.

The department is carrying out a participatory survey among farmers to collect baseline information needed for the project.

The pressnote said the additional income and employment generated through integrated farming would improve the livelihood security of small and marginal coconut farmers and agricultural labourers. The project would result in increased production of coconuts worth up to Rs.325 crore a year.

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