Coconut production in Goa dipped rapidly in FY13

PANAJI: After an upswing for two years, coconut cultivation in Goa has witnessed a downfall with production dipping rapidly during the last fiscal, according to government records.

State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply tabled on the floor of the House, said that coconut production has come down from 12.90 crores net for the Financial Year 2011-12 to 12.27 crore for FY12-13.

The production was 12.88 crore for FY10-11, the data said adding that South Goa produces maximum coconuts compared to the Northern part.

For the last fiscal, 6.57 crore coconuts were produced in South Goa as against 5.69 crore in North.

The production in North Goa remained stable year on year, but South district witnessed rampant decline in the production from 7.27 crore nuts in FY11-12 to 6.57 crore for FY12-13.

Parrikar told the House that for productivity improvement in coconut the required quantities of manures and fertilizers are provided in an area of 500 hectare during the current financial year.

He said that the coconut demonstrations are laid out in farmers' field to demonstrate new technology in coconut cultivation under which an assistance of Rs 35,000 per hectare is provided.

The state government has also decided to start coconut tree climbing training so as to provide coconut pluckers for the farmers.