Cauvery delta farmers asked to take up coconut cultivation

VEDARANYAM: Farmers from Cauvery delta region, hit by lack of water for irrigation of traditional paddy crops, have been asked to go in for technology-based diversification and take up cultivation of coconut, a top official of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has said.

Coconut cultivation has of late become remunerative provided effective mechanisation was undertaken along with plant protection, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Vice-Chancellor K Ramaswamy said at an event here.

Ramaswamy also stressed on the plight of delta farmers due to scarcity of rain and non-availability of Cauvery water.

"You can select exclusive high-yielding coconut varieties for tender coconut, and copra production with high oil content," he said.

He said farmers could also join together and form coconut producers' organisation with the support of NABARD. "You can also go in for value added products from coconut", he added.

Coconut is grown in 62,000 hectares in the state, said Ramaswamy, adding, Nagapattinam district alone accounted for 4,100 hectares of the total area.