Coconut Board to extend rejuvenation programme in Kerala

The programme will be extended to remaining 11 districts of the state

The replanting and rejuvenation programme of coconut plantations being implemented on a pilot scale in Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Thrissur districts in Kerala will be extended to the remaining 11 districts of the state, said T K Jose, chairman, Coconut Development Board.

The Centre has allotted Rs 75 crore in the Union budget 2013 for the programme. The board will extend the implementation of the scheme in the 11 districts  in a phased manner.

In the pilot project, farmers were given subsidy of Rs 500 per palm for the first 20 palms, Rs 250 per palm for subsequently removed palms. For this, a maximum of Rs 13,000 per hectare was provided to the farmers for cutting and removal of old, senile, unproductive and disease advanced palms. The cutting and removal of the coconut palms was followed by a systematic replanting by providing a subsidy at Rs 20 per seedling. The remaining trees in the garden were rejuvenated through proper management practices for which a subsidy of Rs15,000 per hectare was provided.

However, in the extended scheme, the Board has recommended Rs 17,500 per hectare by taking into account the higher input cost. Similarly for replanting, the Board has recommended a higher subsidy of Rs 40 per seedlings instead of the existing Rs 20 per seedling.  

The programme is targeted to be completed in a year in districts like Wayanad and Idukki having less area under coconut and in the other districts in two years.

The newly-formed in Coconut Producers Societies and Coconut Producers Federations along with the clusters of coconut farmers can take the lead in the effective and speedy implementation of the project, he said.