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India ranks No.1 in coconut production, replacing Indonesia and Philippines
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Friday, 05 September, 2008, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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India, known for its vast coastline covered with plush green coconut trees, has now become the largest producer of coconut in the world. As per the latest statistics released by the Coconut Development Board, India produced 1584 crore nuts in 2006-07, elbowing Indonesia and Philippines to the second and third spots respectively. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka account for 90.29 % of the area under coconut plantation and 91.13 % of the production in the country.
Coconut production in the country has increased from 1481 crore nuts in 2005-06 to 1584 crore nuts in 2006-07, while Indonesia's production, which was 1509 crore nuts in 2002 slipped to 1498 crore nuts in 2006-07, as revealed by the Coconut Development Board (CDB), India. Coconut production in Philippines fell from 1406 crore nuts in 2002 to 1260 crore nuts in 2006-07.
Favourable climatic condition aided by good monsoon helped India increase production while other regions lagged behind in production due to the looming 'tsunami effect.'
Productivity has also shown an upward trend from 7608 nuts per hectare in 2005-06 to 8165 nuts in 2006-07.
As per the figures released by the board, Kerala produces 6951 nuts per hectare. Copra production is estimated at 7.5 lakh tonnes and coconut oil production at 4.4 lakh tonnes per annum.
Coconut thus shares a major slice in GDP, its contribution accounting for Rs 8000 crore and Rs 650 crore to the export earnings of the country. The industry provides direct and indirect employment on a large scale to more than 10 million people and provides raw material for nearly 15,000 coir processing units.
The board had suggested the Kerala government to distribute coconut oil through the Public Distribution System and urged the Centre to ensure that Vansapati manufacturers use a certain percentage of coconut oil.
India has a 3000 years tradition in coconut cultivation and is the premier coir manufacturing country in the world. Besides, it is the producer of best grade milling copra in the world yielding high grade coconut oil known for its aroma and flavour. The industry is supported by large number of farmer's co-operative societies in primary processing and marketing.
A large number of coconut products are manufactured in the country which have both domestic and export market.
Marico shakes hand with CDB on forming coconut cluster in Kerala
FMGC major Marico Ltd has tied up with Coconut Development Board to promote coconut farm cluster in Malappuram district in Kerala.
Under the cluster programme, all the coconut growers will form a group and receive aid from the coconut board as well as Marico.
Marico, the popular brand behind Saffola and Parachute Oil, has been sourcing coconuts from Kerala and Tamil Nadu for producing consumer goods. However, the apparent shortage of coconuts in these regions has prompted the company to take this initiative. Marico is the largest consumer of copra in the country consuming 30,000 tonnes from Kerala alone. In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of coconut farming and copra conversion, Marico is now directly engaged with the farmers and copra converters through its collection centres in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The deal would prove to be advantageous to the CDB as selling coconuts to Marico would be easier and require less marketing.
Free distribution of organic and chemical fertilisers, pesticides, coconut tree climbing machines and training for better agricultural management practices are conducted under the cluster programme. With 22 clusters in the district alone, 3,500 farmers are currently making use of the programme.
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