Demand surges for training in coconut plucking

Deepthi.Sanjiv
Mangaluru: The pandemic induced lockdown had a severe impact on the job market. The nation saw youths returning to agriculture. In a related development, ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dakshina Kannada, has been flooded with requests from rural youths to re-introduce coconut tree climbing programme conducted in 2013-14.
“These training programmes have been successful and the youth have been requesting for them. This has encouraged us to write to the Coconut Development Board (CBD), Bengaluru, to sponsor training programmes,” Rashmi R, scientist, horticulture, ICAR- KVK told TOI.
‘Friends of coconut tree’ training programme was conducted almost six years ago. Out of 200 rural youths trained more than 25 of them including Anush from Surathkal, K. Vittala Gowda from Sullia, M Vishwanatha, Ramesh from Belthangady and Dinesh from Bantwal are earning up to Rs 60,000 per month. Anush, for instance, has trained a team of coconut climbers. These climbers with the help of tree climbing machines can climb about 80- 100 trees per day and charge between Rs 30-Rs 45 per tree.
Rashmi said it took some time to study the impact of the training programme. CDB sponsors six-day training across the state. The programme was initiated by Hanumantappa H, the then programme coordinator and TJ Ramesha, senior scientist and head, ICAR- KVK.
“The objective of the programme is to develop a professional group of youths for harvesting and plant protection operations in coconut and to tackle the problem of unavailability of coconut tree climbers,” Rashmi said.
“ About 30% of the seats are reserved for women. Each participant during the training gets Rs 150 per day as stipend and a coconut tree climbing machine worth Rs 2,100 for free. On completion of the training, participants are also given an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh,” she added.