Coconut production has dropped by 14 per cent in the 2013-14 season that ended in June due to a slew of reasons.

Drought in several parts of the country coupled with the root wilt disease and the cyclone that lashed in the Andhra Coast last year all contributed to fall in production, senior officials in the Coconut Development Board said, after carrying out a survey to estimate coconut production in seven major growing States during 2013-14.

Coconut production in Kerala was 5,200 million nuts, down 10 per cent from 2012-13. The average productivity decreased to 6,515 nuts a hectare.

Kerala tops in the area under coconut and it makes up some 37 per cent in area and 26 per cent in production. However, officials said that coconut production in the State for 2014-15 season is likely to improve, with the collective promotional activities taken up by Farmer Producer Organisations for coconut farming.

Coconut today is not a neglected crop in the State and a majority of the people are now showing interest, especially since prices of raw nuts are ruling higher.

Production in Tamil Nadu has been projected at 4,634 million nuts, down 9 per cent. The result of the survey in Karnataka indicated a 21 per cent drop in production at 3,412 million nuts. In Andhra Pradesh, production was 15 per cent lower at 142 million nuts.

In Odisha, production has been estimated as 365 million nuts, a 3 per cent drop. The drop was particularly due to uprooting of majority plants following the cyclone that lashed the Andhra Coast and Odisha last year, officials said adding that it will take more time for replanting the entire area.

The survey indicates the production in Maharashtra was 148 million nuts, a 9 per cent drop. West Bengal produced 172 million nuts, a decline of 53 per cent.

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