http://www.navhindtimes.in/tough-times-for-coconut-in-goa/
The coconut is ubiquitous in Goa. Its presence is vital in every kitchen and not a day goes by without it used in daily cooking. A useful fruit in all ways, the coconut is currently in the limelight because of increasing prices in the market. Production of the nut is fallen in 2016-17 season and the impact is on availability to consumers. Coconut is currently sold for Rs 20- Rs 25 per piece but there are localities where buyers have paid Rs 30- Rs 35 for it. Prices are expected to stay firm in the coming months because coconut output will not improve, according to cultivators. Production is expected to remain at lower levels during the next harvest too and all in all it is tough times for the fibrous fruit. According to Ulhas Pai Kakode, director, department of agriculture, natural factors are responsible for the coconut crop taking a hit. “Growing conditions were non-favorable and it affected all farmers uniformly,” says Kakode. He says that because of the slump in production traders have resorted to imports from neighbouring states. Satish Naik, vendor, Panjim market, says that, coconuts are regularly brought from Andhra Pradesh as local supply is not able to match the demand. “The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi saw coconut arriving in large quantities and imports will continue unless local supply increases,” says Naik. According to Mahesh Patil, farmer, NV Eco Farms, Kirpal, he witnessed at least 50 per cent drop in yield. “Climatic conditions were not suitable for cultivation and production also suffered from shortage of water,” he said. The shortage was felt in the months of March-April, points out Patil. In some areas production suffered from animal attacks as marauding monkeys destroyed the crops in several areas. Pests that periodically attack coconut trees were thankfully less. Longer term there are several factors that will depress production in Goa. Coconut harvesting requires labour and shortage of pluckers is an enduring problem faced by farmers. Lack of marketing support is another major hurdle faced by farmers. Thanks to inadequate marketing support the returns to cultivators are erratic. “Currently we are receiving Rs 12-15 per nut but in October-November I sold my harvest for as low as Rs three per piece,” says Patil. Coconut trees lend a distinct flavor to Goa’s landscape but by all accounts their numbers are declining as they fall prey to rampant cutting. Ground check reveals that cultivation is throughout the state. The picturesque palm is present in comunidade land, in village roads, backyards, in home gardens and practically everywhere. Statistics gathered from the department of agriculture, reveals that Salcete tops in acreage with 6,130 hectares of land under coconut cultivation. Bardez is the second highest in cultivation with 3,045 hectares under coconut cultivation. Sanguem is another taluka prominent in the nut with 2,735 hectares of coconut palms, followed by Ponda, Quepem, Canacona, Tiswadi, and others. Average cultivation is in small-sized plantations. A farmer with 60-70 trees is considered big and the number of commercial sized farms is only a handful. There are a couple of large plantations in Rivona, Zambaulim villages where there are farmers with 1,000- 2,000 coconut trees. Otherwise most of the cultivation occurs naturally with farmers putting in little effort to increase the yield. The average productivity is woefully low. Coconut yield in Goa is just 5,000 nuts per hectare compared to Kerala where productivity is 7,535 nuts per hectare and Tamil Nadu with an even higher productivity of 14,800 nuts per hectare. *Pan‑India coconut production is spiralling downwards* If the following news is any consolation, Goa’s gloomy coconut outlook on coconuts is in sync with what is happening in other states. According to the Coconut Development Board (CDB) drought in various parts of South India will be a major contributing factor influencing productivity in the 2017-18 season. The four southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh that account for almost 91per cent of the country’s production are expected to witness lower production. Further the lower forecast is on the back of drop in output in 2016-17. Coconut production in 2016-17 is currently under estimation but initial trends reveal that it is going to be lower in comparison with that of the previous year. As per an early survey production for 2016-17 is estimated at 20,789 million nuts which is 6.2 per cent lower than the previous year. The drop in output is across states. It includes the four southern states as well as West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Major decrease in production in 2016-17 is estimated in Gujarat and Odisha respectively, according to CDB. Increasing urbanisation has affected coconut cultivation, shrinking the area under the crop. “The scientific management of palms is the only available option to enhance productivity,” as per the CDB. India is leading in coconut production in the world and the central government’s new foreign trade policy for 2015-20 is to promote the export of coconut products. India exports coconut oil. Recently exports of desiccated coconut in large quantities to US and Europe started for the first time. -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
