The Kerala agriculture department launched a massive coconut sapling planting drive on Novemnber 1. The initiative, called Kera Samrudhi, will see 15 lakh saplings being planted across the state in three years.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy and agriculture minister K P Mohanan launched the initiative by planting a coconut sapling in the secretariat compound. One lakh saplings will be planted in the first year and another two lakh the following year.
“A wide variety of high yielding coconut saplings like TxD, Malabar Dwarf and Chavakad Dwarf will be planted in coconut farms, residential and school compounds and fallow land, as part of the initiative,” Mohanan said.
Hundred saplings will be planted in each of the panchayats in the first year. “This way, we will be able to plant one lakh saplings at the panchayat level in the first year alone. These trees will start flowering in the next three to four years,” the minister said.
The department estimates that state can earn around Rs 6,000 crore in revenue by producing 600 crore coconuts annually.
There are 50 lakh coconut farmers, doing farming in around 8 lakh hectares, across the state. But the total area of coconut cultivation has decreased by 16% in the last 10 and the state has been trying hard to rejuvenate coconut production in a big way.
“From this year onwards, we have been procuring raw coconuts at various Krishi Bhavans. Around 40,000 tonnes of coconuts have been procured and Rs 75 crore has been paid to the coconut farmers. We have also raised the price of coconut to Rs 22 per kg to make coconut farming financially viable,” Mohanan said.
Officials said that with the state cabinet approving a proposal to permit production of Neera from coconut trees, there will be a huge demand for increasing coconut production once the commercial production of Neera begins.
“Two Neera production units each would be permitted initially in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta districts and the government will increase the number of units if there is a demand for Neera,” an official said.
The state government has also amended the Abkari Act to allow commercial production of Neera.
“Coconut producers’ societies under the Coconut Development Board will be entrusted with the Neera production project and traditional toddy tappers would be given preference in the Neera tapping scheme ” an official said
Chief minister Oommen Chandy and agriculture minister K P Mohanan launched the initiative by planting a coconut sapling in the secretariat compound. One lakh saplings will be planted in the first year and another two lakh the following year.
“A wide variety of high yielding coconut saplings like TxD, Malabar Dwarf and Chavakad Dwarf will be planted in coconut farms, residential and school compounds and fallow land, as part of the initiative,” Mohanan said.
Hundred saplings will be planted in each of the panchayats in the first year. “This way, we will be able to plant one lakh saplings at the panchayat level in the first year alone. These trees will start flowering in the next three to four years,” the minister said.
The department estimates that state can earn around Rs 6,000 crore in revenue by producing 600 crore coconuts annually.
There are 50 lakh coconut farmers, doing farming in around 8 lakh hectares, across the state. But the total area of coconut cultivation has decreased by 16% in the last 10 and the state has been trying hard to rejuvenate coconut production in a big way.
“From this year onwards, we have been procuring raw coconuts at various Krishi Bhavans. Around 40,000 tonnes of coconuts have been procured and Rs 75 crore has been paid to the coconut farmers. We have also raised the price of coconut to Rs 22 per kg to make coconut farming financially viable,” Mohanan said.
Officials said that with the state cabinet approving a proposal to permit production of Neera from coconut trees, there will be a huge demand for increasing coconut production once the commercial production of Neera begins.
“Two Neera production units each would be permitted initially in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta districts and the government will increase the number of units if there is a demand for Neera,” an official said.
The state government has also amended the Abkari Act to allow commercial production of Neera.
“Coconut producers’ societies under the Coconut Development Board will be entrusted with the Neera production project and traditional toddy tappers would be given preference in the Neera tapping scheme ” an official said
A great initiative to produce massive coconuts. Coconut producers would surely be benefited out of this method.
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