Agri minister calls for global synergy in coconut farming

Major coconut growing countries in the world should extend a helping hand to the ailing coconut farmers in less-developed countries, urged minister of state for agriculture Mohanji Kalyanji Bhai Kundariya.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 51st Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) ministerial meeting held here today, Kundariya said coconut was being grown globally in 12.4 million hectares and the annual global production is 70-72 billion nuts. Over 20 million people across the world depend upon coconut farming for their livelihood.

The minister said, like most of the coconut growing countries in the world, in India, coconut is a small and marginal farmer's crop. "When policy makers talk and think about coconut, our aim should be the progress of these small farmers," the minister said.
 

In the last two decades, efforts targeting the development and research on coconut, technology for cultivation and product processing has improved substantially. But the benefits of improved technology have not been reaching to coconut farmers.

The minister praised the Coconut Development Board's (CDB) initiatives to form Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and also opined the FPOs can play a lead role in increasing production, productivity, augmenting production of good quality planting material, aggregation of the product for primary processing, better by-product utilisation and value-addition through marketing.

Kerala is the only state which had started Neera production by amending the 112-year old Abkari Act. Production of Neera would bring 10-fold increase in the grower's income.

The farmer could earn a minimum of Rs 15,000 from a tree per year. Neera sugar is being actively marketed in Indonesia and Philippines.

"The arrival of Neera would not only boost the coconut sector but also the economy of the state as a whole," said K Babu, minister for fisheries, ports and excise, Government of Kerala.

India looks forward to sharing of knowledge, technologies and experiences with all the 18 Asian and Pacific Coconut Community member countries during the five-day session, said TK Jose, chairman of CDB. APCC has felicitated three Indians for their outstanding contribution to the coconut sector.

KK Haridas (posthumously), OVR Somasundaram and CR Vijakumar were honoured during the function.