Coconut cultivation to get a boost in Kozhikode

The district panchayath has come up with a comprehensive integrated coconut development project to give boost to the coconut production.

The project envisages revival of coconut cultivation, which has been facing severe setbacks due to various diseases, and inter cropping, which involves growing of two or more crops simultaneously.

Both the block and village panchayath will join the district panchayath in introducing the project with the assistance of Coconut Development Board (CDB) and agriculture department. An outlay of Rs 52 lakh has been earmarked in the panchayat budget for the project during 2006-07.

"It's an experimental project to revive the farm sector and increase agriculture productivity by providing necessary facilities," K P Kunahammedkutty, district panchayath president, told Business Standard.

It will be introduced in 600 hectares in the district and 44 clusters with 25 hectares each will be formed in each panchayth. Every cluster will have self-help groups possessing about 10 hectares of land in water rich areas. A subsidy of 50 percent will be given for coconut cultivation.

"A committee comprising members of panchayath and representatives from the agriculture department will decide the area where farming is to be undertaken and will take initiative to bring farmers together to form self- help groups. The plots will be chosen before June 10." the panchayath president said.

The panchayath will also help self-help groups secure bank loans to finance 50 percent of the project outlay. Out of the 50 percent subsidy, CDB will provide 25 percent, the district and block panchayth 10 percent each and the village panchayth will provide the remaining 5 percent.