Production of this vitally important nut needs streamlining and organisation
In what is becoming a regular feature for Goa’s coconut crop, the vitally important produce of the state is facing another spell of turbulence due to pest attacks this year.
In 2023, it was coconut farmers in Sanguem taluka who complained of bud rot, while presently it is farmers in Bicholim taluka who have flagged a 40 per cent drop in yield due to the fungal disease.
Bud rot, locally known as ‘suyaro’ causes the buds of coconut trees to rot, eventually leading to the tree’s death. The disease attacks the growing point of the palm and occurs after Rhinoceros beetles attack the buds, absorbing their sap before flying away. Subsequently, red palm weevils bore into the tree stems, causing further damage and often resulting in the tree’s demise.
Bud rot disease is a recurring problem faced by coconut farmers in the state. It prevails when the humidity is high.
The curative measure for the disease is the physical application of fungicide to the crown, which is difficult owing to the height of the tree. Therefore, the better way is prevention by taking proper care of the palm when it is young. Regular maintenance and application of fertilisers helps to contain bud rot, according to experts.
It is unfortunate that the authorities concerned, including the research wings, have failed to limit the spread of the disease. Chronic pest attacks, together with other problems such as pressure on the land, high cost of labour, and scarcity of coconut pluckers, have kept coconut production in Goa low and stagnant. The local production presently is 160 million nuts over 26,683 hectares of land.
The sufferer of this modest production is the Goan consumer as coconut prices shoot up. In the past month, the rates have increased by Rs 10-Rs 15 per nut.
Four southern states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh—account for 90 per cent of the coconut production in India. In 2023, the estimated volume of coconuts produced was 13.5 million metric tonnes, which amounted to 20,535 million nuts.
Goa, as a humid, tropical climate coastal state, is ideally suited for coconut cultivation. However, the number of coconut trees is decreasing due to urbanisation. How can Goa’s coconut cultivation be revived and rescued from the rut that it finds itself in? Value addition offers an answer as it can result in three times more price realisation to the grower. Farmers in the state grow coconuts and sell the harvest to marketing cooperatives at Rs 6-Rs 8 per piece. According to the agriculture department, even primary processing by removing the husk can result in the selling price increasing to Rs 25 per piece.
The other ways of value addition are by making copra, coconut oil, milk, and a variety of products. Selling the coconut leaf also brings in income to the farmers, as do the empty shells that get discarded in the kitchen bin. It is high time the collection of empty coconut shells is started, as it has numerous uses.
Goa’s coconut economy needs overhauling to benefit all stakeholders in the chain. The foremost measure is encouraging the cultivation of indigenous varieties such as Benaulim, Calangute, and Nadora varieties that, in taste, are far superior to those grown in other states.
Proper maintenance, fertilisation, and irrigation of the coconut palm are needed to increase productivity. The bud-rot disease must be tackled effectively. Value addition can be achieved by using all parts of the coconut tree. Coconut artefacts for which the government is seeking a GI tag also have a good market.
