Coconut production declines 10% in 2014-15

Coconut production in major growing states has shown a 10 per cent decline in 2014-15 compared to 2013-14 period.

Crop production in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka has declined, while it has gone up in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra, a statistical survey conducted by the Coconut Development Board (CDB) revealed.

During 2014-15, the production has shown a decrease of 17.48 per cent. Production during 2013-14 was 5,921 million nuts against 4,886 million nuts in 2014-15. Yield estimate for the State is 6,042 nuts per hectare.

Insufficient rains and pest/disease were cited as the reasons for the decline in production and a major decline was observed in Idukki, Kottayam and Kollam districts. A significant increase in yield was observed in Alappuzha. Kozhikode is the highest coconut producing district followed by Malappuram.

In Tamil Nadu, there was a slight increase in production of 3.9 per cent at 4,668 million nuts (4,850 million nuts). Krishnagiri and Thirunelveli districts showed a decrease in production, while Tirupur, Thanjavur and Kanyakumari registered an increase. Coimbatore is the largest producer of coconut followed by Thanjavur.

Production in Karnataka also declined from 4,337 million nuts to 4,126 million nuts, showing a marginal decrease of 4.87 per cent. The major coconut growing districts of Tumkur and Hassan recorded a decline in production, so are the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.

The highest reduction in yield was observed in Andhra Pradesh with the production declining to 781 million nuts in 2014-15 from 1,678 million nuts in 2012-13.

The decline is reported to be the after effect of two cyclonic storms that lashed Andhra coast in the last two years. All the four major coconut growing districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam showed a major decline in production.

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