Relentless rain from May to Dec 2024 also impacted yield
Ramesh Savaikar
Farmers and agriculturists in Goa are grappling with a 40-45% drop in coconut yield, a decline that has severely impacted their income. Meanwhile, consumers are facing soaring prices of coconuts, which now range from Rs 15 to Rs 40 depending on size, with the largest coconuts being sold for Rs 40-45.
The primary reason for the decline is attributed to the spread of the fungal disease ‘bud-rot,’ locally known as ‘suyaro’, which causes the buds of coconut trees to rot, eventually leading to the tree’s death.
“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,” said experts.
Farmers have also reported losses due to adverse weather conditions, particularly the prolonged and relentless rainfall from May to December 2024. Ex-deputy agriculture director and agriculturist Satish Dev from Netravali-Sanguem said, “The yield drop is around 40%. Coconut trees require adequate sunlight for growth, and the extended monsoon disrupted the photosynthesis process, reducing the food supply to the trees.”
Kalidas Umarye from Vathadev-Bicholim, who owns a plantation of 100 coconut trees, said there is a significant reduction in yield despite using fertilizers to boost production. “Earlier, I harvested around 1,500 coconuts in one plucking season (paddo). This time, I managed only 900,” he said. Similar concerns were raised by farmers like Deepak Nawathe, Vivek Umarye, and Mahadev Govenkar from Vhavti.
Ratnakar Kashinath Govenkar, a seasoned coconut plucker from Bicholim taluka, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Almost all farmers in this region are experiencing a sharp decline in yield. Unfavourable weather during the last monsoon and excessive plucking of tender coconuts for quick profits have contributed to this issue.”
Coconut trees in Goa have previously suffered from the mite disease, which has now subsided. However, the re-emergence of bud-rot continues to worry farmers. Adding to their woes are wild animals like monkeys and wild boars, which frequently damage the yield.
As farmers struggle to cope with reduced yields and higher costs of maintenance, the rising prices of coconuts are creating a strain for both producers and consumers.
