Browsing by Author "Thamban, C."

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    Analysis of Farmer Producer Organisations in the coconut sector: current scenario, limitations, and policy outlook
    (2024) Jayasekhar, S.; Thamban, C.; Chandran, K.P.; Lijo Thomas; Regi Jacob Thomas
    Farmer producer organisation is a crucial institutional innovation that aids small holders in overcoming the issues of diseconomies of scale. Nonetheless, prior experience in the coconut sector reveals that the success rates of such organisations are not as high as projected. This article begins by exploring the relevance of FPOs in the current agrarian context and gives a brief account of the evolution of such organisations in the coconut sector. The study also highlights the points for intervention and provides a critical analysis of the significance and justification for FPOs in the sector. It also includes the challenges and actionable strategies in a ready reckoner mode. The primary motivation for the formation of producer organisations in the coconut sector is to organise unorganized coconut farmers through collectives in order to promote their socioeconomic growth. The success of an FPO is heavily dependent on having a solid business plan, and scope for scalability. Inadequate working capital, including grants and credit, is a major limitation for the majority of FPOs. In this setting, it is critical to obtain bank loans at low interest rates. The development of a well recognised and valued brand is critical for the FPO's viability. Lack of professional leadership has a negative impact on FPOs in the coconut sector, and many have gone out of business as a result. To assist them, target based capacity-building programme to inculcate leadership attributes among FPO representatives should be conducted on a regular basis. Only a few FPOs in the coconut industry have looked into the prospect of gaining premium pricing through certification techniques and product traceability. This is due to a lack of both capacity and awareness. This problem must be addressed with ultimate priority. The FPOs must be trained to be self-sufficient and weaned off external assistance in a short period of time after the initiation. Therefore, FPOs should focus on increasing productivity per unit of land and shifting their current production focus to market-oriented output.
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    Analysis of organic farming practices in cocoa in India
    (2015) Jaganathan, D.; Thamban, C.; Jose, C.T.; Jayasekhar, S.; Muralidharan, K; Chandran, K.P.
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    Analysis of organic farming practices in coconut in South India
    (2013) Jaganathan, D.; Thamban, C.; Jose, C.T.; Jayasekhar, S.; Anitha Kumari, P.
    The study on analysis of organic farming practices was conducted among 150 coconut farmers selected randomly from five districts viz., Coimbatore and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Calicut and Trivandrum in Kerala and Tumkur in Karnataka during August 2011 to January 2012. Majority of farmers (64%) belonged to middle age category, 97 per cent of the farmers were literates and majority of them were having rich experience in coconut cultivation. Sixty seven per cent of farmers had less than 2 ha. area under coconut and 66 per cent farmers had livestock. Majority of them had medium level of social participation, extension orientation and mass media exposure. Less than one fifth of the farmers (17.3%) had undergone training on organic farming. Only 12 per cent of the farmers were maintaining farm records, only 23 per cent farmers carried out soil testing and very few of them (3.3%) had organic certification. The main reason for adopting organic farming practices was to maintain the soil fertility. Growing intercrops, green manure crops and mulching were the main agronomic practices adopted. Main organic inputs produced or prepared at the farm were crop residues, farm yard manure, cow dung slurry and vermicompost. Farm yard manure, neem cake, neem based insecticides, biofertilizers etc. were the major inputs which were purchased from outside. Majority of coconut farmers (68%) had medium level of knowledge on organic farming practices. The mean yield and productivity of coconut was found to be 93 nuts palm–1 year–1 and 13,140 nuts/ha respectively. Gross income from coconut was calculated as Rs. 717 palm–1 year–1 and Rs. 64,825 ha–1. Non-availability of labour, difficulty in controlling pests and diseases by organic methods and non-availability of quality organic inputs were the major constraints.
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    Analyzing the trade competitiveness of Indian coconut sector in the liberalization regime
    (2016) Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Thamban, C.; Jaganathan, D.; Muralidharan, K.
    Coconut export sector in India of late gained an outward orientation, especially since the Coconut Development Board was elevated to the status of export promotion council in the year 2009. In the recent period, the growth rate experienced in the coconut based value added products has been stupendous. Since there is an attempt for global value chain up-gradation at the production node of the sector, it is imperative to analyse our strengths in the world market in comparison with the major competitors. We have used the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) methodology to analyse India’s competitiveness in the exports of major coconut value added products traded across the world. The study revealed that, as far as the coconut value added products are concerned, India is comparatively a very small player with paltry export market shares. The analysis of RCA revealed that comparative advantage of India is lower than the major coconut exporting countries like Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The Philippines is the dominant player with highest RCA indices in most of the coconut value added product lines. The study suggests the need to formulate plausible strategies to reach the overseas market and capture the optimal share in market segments. Though we have a strong domestic market base, it is an indubitable fact that in the near future due to the evolving trade agreements even in the domestic sector we may confront fierce price competition from the overseas imports. Hence, we need to chalk out modalities and execution plans to elevate our export competitiveness and comparative advantage.
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    Assessment of pest/disease infestation on coconut and yield loss
    (JPC, 2004-12) Muralidharan, K.; Thamban, C.; Arulraj, S.
    One of the major limiting factors of coconut production in India is the incidence of pests and diseases. Data on incidence of pestldisease and resulting yield loss are necessary for research prioritization and technology intervention but are not col- lectedlreported along with the official statistics on crops. The required information is therefore generated by conducting sample surveys. Results on earlier surveys conducted by CPCRI on coconut pests and disease were made use of in analyzing their usefulness for applications in similar situations. The organizational aspects of surveys such as criteria for stratification. preparation of sampling frame, selection of units, construction of estimators, organization of field work etc. were examined , in relation to suitability under respective contexts.
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    Assimilating socio-economic perspective in designing crop sector technology interventions: A farmer participatory study on coconut sector in Kerala
    (2019-12) Thamban, C.; Lijo Thomas; Chandran, K.P.; Jayasekhar, S.; Rajesh, M.K; Jesmi Vijayan; Srinivasan, V.; Nair, K.M.; Anil Kumar, K. S.
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    Barn Owl for Rodent Management in Lakshadweep Islands
    (2019-04) Joseph Rajkumar, A.; Thamban, C.; Shameena Beegum
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    Challenges and Prospects of Coconut Cultivation in North East India
    (2023-07) Thamban, C.; Alpana Das; L. S. Singh; Anok Uchoi
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    Chocolate from neera
    (2017-09) Shameena Beegum; Hebbar, K.B.; Thamban, C.
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    Climbing Coconut Trees... past and present
    (2013-12) Thamban, C.; Leena, S.
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    Coconut based farming system for higher income : Sucess story of a 'Kerakesari'
    (2014-07) Thamban, C.; Chandran, K.P.; Jayasekhar, S.
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    Coconut based farming system for higher income and employment opportunities
    (2014-06) Subramanian, P.; Thamban, C.; Maheswarappa, H.P.
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    Coconut based Mixed Cropping and Integrated Farming system for Realizing Higher Income
    (2022-02) Thamban, C.; Subramanian, P.; Mathew, A.C.
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    Coconut blues: Tracing the reasons for looming crisis
    (2012-11) Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralidharan, K.; Thamban, C.
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    Coconut cabbage An underexploited value added coconut product
    (2022-07) Shameena Beegum; Niral, V.; Thamban, C.
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    Coconut climbing methods and devices: A participatory analysis of constraints and strategies
    (2011) Thamban, C.; Mathew, A.C.; Muralidharan, K.; Subramanian, P.; Vidhan Singh, T.; Madhavan, K.
    Socio-economic characteristics, extent of knowledge about integrated management of selected pest and diseases of coconut and technical efficiency of mechanical climbing devices were analysed in a study conducted among 87 coconut climbers in Kasaragod District. Matrix scoring, one of the Participatory Rural Appraisal tools, was employed to elicit data for the participatory assessment of the climbing devices. Among the climbers 22 per cent were illiterate, 57 per cent had primary school level of education, eight per cent were landless and 64 per cent were having only 10 to 50 cents of land holding. Only 14 per cent of the climbers used mechanical devices for climbing coconut palms. Seventy four per cent of the climbers attended to plant protection measures, mainly control measures for bud rot disease and rhinoceros beetle, apart form harvesting and crown cleaning. Except one climber, none of them had attended any training on PP measures in coconut. Majority of the climbers did not possess the required level of knowledge about the control measures recommended against bud rot disease and rhinoceros beetle infestation. The average time taken to set the device on the tree was more for the Chemberi Joseph model of climbing device but it took less time for climbing up the tree. CPCRI model was assessed better on the dimension of safety for the climber and simplicity in the design of the device. Chemberi Joseph model was assessed better on the dimensions of less drudgery involved in climbing, suitability for using under all weather situations and cost of the device.
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    Coconut community in India -a profile
    (CPCRI, 2001-09) Arulraj, S.; Rajagopal, V.; Sairam, C.V.; Thamban, C.; Anithakumari, P.; Dhanapal, R.; Bosco, S.J.D.; Subaharan, K.; Naresh Kumar, S.; George V. Thomas; Vinayaka Hegde; Kumaran, P.M.; Parthasarathy, V.A.