ROQUE DIAS | NT
Margao
The agriculture department will commence a baseline survey of the coconuts producers in Goa by November so as to enable the formation of the much-needed coconut farmer producer organisation (CFPO) in the state to tap the potential and increase coconut productivity in Goa.
The concept of CFPO was envisaged by the coconut development board of the country to revive coconut cultivation in the states and fetch appropriate benefits to coconut farmers. States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam already have their CFPOs in place and are evoking a good response.
Once the baseline survey is completed in a month’s time, the department will then form the most important CFPO in the state. This CFPO will encourage the formation of coconut farmer company, coconut farmers society and even coconut farmers federation to make maximum use of the central government schemes and benefits. The CFPO can also create sizeable job opportunities once the coconut integrated industry – an umbrella for producing maximum coconut-related (value added) products – is put
in place.
“The baseline survey will start in November. It will identify the problems of coconut producers of the state initially and address them step by step before forming the CFPO in Goa. This CFPO will be formed within the next six months. The agriculture department will provide a hand-holding support to the CFPO for the first three-four years. There are plans to set up a first-of-its-kind industry, putting a proper business plan in place. An industry will be set up where all coconut-related products will be produced,” informed director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso.
Goans use coconut on auspicious occasions and its unique taste has increased its demand in the market. Goa has a total of 26,307 hectares of area under coconut cultivation, producing on an average 5,500-5,600 coconuts per hectare, whereas India, which
is a top coconut producer in Asia with 22,680 million nuts per year, has an average production of 10,615 nuts per hectare.
Interestingly, 92 per cent of the coconut producers in Goa are small-time producers, having an area of 5 to 8 hectares each under coconut cultivation and hence bringing them together is essential to have an organisation, as Goa has a lot of potential to increase coconut production, opined the agriculture director. He said there is a good scope for a full-fledged industry where all the coconut-related products can be manufactured in Goa under one roof.
The agriculture department, which has jotted down the problems of the coconut producers, justifies the farmers in the state not showing collective interest. “We know that the cost of coconut cultivation is increasing and the prices of fertilizer have also gone up. There are no coconut harvesters (pluckers) easily available,” said sources in the agriculture department. They further said the department will resolve all these problems by introducing the new technology available, which will help increase coconut cultivation and swell profits.
