Coconut output surges despite tsunami attack

KOCHI: Despite the widespread damage to coconut palms caused by the tsunami attack, coconut production in the country is going up.

The production has registered a 5.4% growth in ’04-05 to touch 12,832.9m nuts in ’04-05. As per the figures released by the agriculture ministry, the final estimates for ’04-05 for area stood at 19.4 lakh hectares. The area has seen only a marginal increase of 0.1% over the previous year.

The average productivity per hectare has increased by 5.3% to 6,632 nuts per hectare in ’04-05. The figures have been released by the Coconut Development Board in the Indian Coconut Journal.

Among the different coconut growing states, Kerala continued to top the chart with a share of 46.4% as far as area under coconut is concerned. In terms of production the state’s share stood at 44.6% in ’04-05.

Tamil Nadu held the second position among the states in coconut production. Its share stood at 25.3% in production while in area under coconut cultivation it was 18.5 %. In area under coconut cultivation Karnataka holds the second position with a share of nearly 19.9%.

Coconut continued to be a southern crop with the four south states accounting for 90% of production and 89% of the acreage.