Initiatives towards improving coconut productivity
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Date
2004-12
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Abstract
Coconut is a very important commercial crop associated with the livelihood of millions of the people in the country. In general the coconut productivity across the country has improved only marginally over the years despite substantial advances in production technology. Though quality of planting material is a very important component in the future productivity of the farms. the institutions that have produced improved varieties and hybrids do not have adequate infrastructure to supply the required numbers to the farmers. There is no national policy on certification and supply of quality planting material for coconut. Sample studies in Kerala indicated the adoption level to be poor for coconut hybrids? Technology for reviving neglected coconut gardens has given 75 to 150% increase in yield. While fertilizer application is an immediate strategy for increasing productivity of coconut groves, countrywide experiments by All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms have given support to INM as a handy tool for productivity increase and its sustenance. Simple, cost effective eco-friendly techniques of basin management by growing legumes; gliricidia and vermicompost production should be popularized effectively. The good response to N application in Konkan coast and K in red lateritic soils of Kerala can be taken as guides for prescribing fertilizer schedules in these regions. Countrywide drip irrigation experiments have indicated its economic advantage in coconut cultivation. Drip irrigation to coconut groves coupled with fertilizer application can increase the yield from 30 to 110% depending upon the quantity of water applied. The coconut based high-density multispecies cropping studies at CPCRl have shown large-scale response to fertilizer application and evidence to manage the system with low inorganic inputs. Availability of biomass for recycling in the system was around 12.7 - 18.2 t per hectare under various treatments. Farming system studies involving dairy, poultry enterprises and recycling of farm wastes indicated the possibility of supplementing 74% of N, 82% of K and entire quantity of P requirement of main and component crops. A complete reorientation on production technology research is needed to evolve models for site-specific recommendations. A detailed mapping of the fertility status of the coconut groves in major coconut growing states is necessary for planning production-oriented policies. More than 90% of the 5 million coconut holdings in the country are less than one ha in size. Hence the approaches should be bottom up in scheduling development programmes and policies. A sound extension policy is needed to popularize the benefits of production technology achievements in the research front.
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Coconut varieties, root (wilt) disease, resistance tolerance
Citation
Journal of Plantation Crops 32(Suppl.) December 2004:173-185