The Hindu Business Line : Lower coconut yield pushes up products import — User industries' reluctance to modernise also a factor

IMPORTS of desiccated coconut meat and other coconut products, including charcoal, are on the rise as coconut productivity continues to be lower and coconut-based industries are reluctant to go in for modernisation.

During the 2004-05 fiscal, desiccated coconut imports more than trebled to Rs 27.95 crore against Rs 8.27 crore the previous year, while dried coconut imports rose to Rs 1.20 crore from a paltry Rs 3 lakh. Again, imports of coconut shell charcoal were up at Rs 63.71 lakh from a meagre Rs 23,000 the previous fiscal, according to statistics from the Commerce Ministry.

"Though India's coconut productivity is a little better than the global situation, a seven-fold increase is possible," says Mr P. Rethinam, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC). The global coconut productivity is 38 nuts a tree for a year, while in India, it is 45 nuts for a tree in a year.

"Even in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, it is much lower," he says. "In Kerala, it was observed that one particular tree gave 480 nuts in a year," Mr Rethinam, who was in Mumbai recently in connection with a global edible oil conference, told Business Line.

APCC is a group that represents the interests of coconut-growing nations with seven members each from Asia and Pacific.

"With better cultivation practice, productivity in Kerala can be improved to 200-250 nuts a tree a year. But the problem is that small farm holders cultivating coconut don't apply fertilisers and there is also no irrigation there and therefore, there is total lack of care for the plants during the dry period," he says.

The plantations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are irrigated. "Proper management of water and manure can help increase coconut productivity," he says.

"Recycling of organic waste and farm-based vermin-compost can help improve the plants productivity. These materials should be available in the coconut garden itself," Mr Rethinam says.

The other problem in the country is that most of the plants are "old and senile". "There should be systematic re-plantation of the trees. No rejuvenation of the plantation is being done," the APCC chief says, adding that "an integrated system in coconut farming can help improve yield, income and increase employment opportunities." Of the 1.8 million hectares under coconut, 0.8 million is in Kerala.

"There is good potential in States such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These States produce an average 50-60 nuts per tree a year," Mr Rethinam, who headed the Coconut Development Board before taking up the current assignment, said.

On the other hand, lack of modernisation of the coconut-based industries is also acting as a dampener. "The desiccated coconut units are still traditional ones and they are hesitant to go in for modernisation. Maybe, because they are not in the organised sector," he says.

As a result, desiccated coconut, coconut meat and dried coconut powder are being imported and even re-exported. "Sri Lanka is the place of origin for most of these imports," he says.

"Demand for coconut products are on the rise but our people have not woken up. We have begun to even import coconut shells for charcoal," Mr Rethinam says. "We should know that prospects for coconut water and even green coconut exports have brightened," he says.

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