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The deficient monsoon is going to have a say in the county's coconut production in the 2016-17 crop season (July-June), with the figure expected to drop.
A Coconut Development Board survey reveals that production for agriculture year 2016-17 is estimated at 20,789 million nuts, 6.22 per cent lower than the previous year.
The Board conducted the study in the major coconut growing states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The estimate indicates increased production in West Bengal and Maharashtra by 3.96 per cent and 0.37 per cent, respectively.
In Andhra Pradesh only a meagre decrease was estimated, which is an indication that the State is returning to normal as far as coconut production is concerned, after being severely impacted by cyclonic storms in 2013 and 2014.
However, production in the other major coconut growing states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Odisha is estimated to decline. A major decrease in production, at 15.86 per cent and 10.38 per cent, is estimated in Gujarat and Odisha respectively. The four major southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which contribute almost 91 per cent of the country’s production, indicated a comparatively lower decrease at 8.47 per cent, 5.85 per cent, 5.17 per cent and 0.81 per cent respectively.
The adverse effects may be partly overcome by using irrigation.
AP biggest producerIn India, the highest productivity of 13,617 nuts/ha is estimated in Andhra Pradesh. The lowest productivity, at 5782 nuts/ha, was projected in Odisha. In Kerala, Kozhikode has the highest productivity with 11,972 nuts/ha, followed by Malappuram (11,840 nuts) and Thrissur (11,218 nuts). The lowest productivity of 1,856 nuts/ha has been reported from Idukki.
The Board officials attributed the decline in production in almost all the states to the deficient monsoon, especially in Kerala, where the majority of the coconut cultivation is under rainfed conditions. In noconut gardens that have irrigation facilities and follow scientific management practices, production has not been severely affected.
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