Coconut Development Board survey says coconut production to decline by 6.22%

KOCHI: A survey conducted by the Coconut Development Board ( CDB) for the crop season 2016-17(July-June) has revealed that production of coconut is likely to decline by 6.22 % from a year earlier at 20,789 million nuts.

The study was conducted by the board in the major coconut growing states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The output in major coconut growing states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Odisha is estimated to decrease. The survey indicated increased production in the states of West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh only a meagre decrease was estimated, an indication that the state was returning to normalcy after being severely hit by cyclonic storms in successive years 2013 and 2014, according to CDB.

The decline in production in almost all the states is attributed to deficient monsoon, especially in Kerala where majority of the coconut cultivation is under rain-fed conditions. Coconut gardens having irrigation facility and following scientific management practices were better-off.

Major decrease in production at 15.86% and 10.38% was estimated in Gujarat and Odisha respectively. The four major southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which contributes almost 91% of the country’s production, indicated comparatively lesser decrease at 8.47, 5.85, 5.17 and 0.81% respectively.