A Study on Coconut Cultivation In India

This paper presents the trend in area, production and productivity of coconut in India from 1974-75 to 2007-2008. The analysis has been made in detail as regards the district-wise and state-wise trend in coconut cultivation during the pre and post-Liberalization period. The study covers a period of 34 years which has been divided into two-pre and post-Liberalization period, covering 17 years before and after 1991. In India, coconut is grown in 17 states and 3 union territories under varying soil and climatic conditions. Coconut plant is versatile in its adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions. 91 per cent of the total area and production of coconut in the country is concentrated mainly in the four southern states, namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

It is evident from the table that the total area of coconut cultivation in Kerala was the highest, compared to other Indian states during the pre Liberalisation period. In 1974-75, Kerala‟s share in the total area of cultivation of coconut stood at 67.02 per cent of India‟s total area of cultivation of coconut. But it showed a diminishing trend till 1990-„91 and it was 57.08 per cent in 1990-91. The States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu stood in the second and third position. The share of the State of Tripura was the lowest and the percentage was less than. 10 till 1977-78 and thereafter it was less than 0.5 per cent. The area of cultivation of coconut in India shows a under cultivation was 1116.3 (1000ha) in 1974-‟75 which has increased to 1513.9 („000ha) in 1990-91.

The agricultural produce sector has been one of the most important components of the Indian economy. Coconut, predominantly a small holder crop, occupies a prime position in the cultural, social and economic lives of millions of people across the world (Sandip, 1995). Even though, India is the third largest coconut growing country in the world, its contribution to international market remains insignificant. With regard to the production of coconut, in traditional coconut growing states like Kerala and other growing states in the north east, cultivation undertaken is small, fragmented and non-commercial holdings. Coconut industry, all round efforts made for integrated development of coconut sector in the areas of production, processing and marketing (Khatkar, 1995. Lathika, 2003. Sugata and Raveendran, 1993). A concerned effort from all stakeholders in the development of coconut cultivation is vital for inducing a sustainable progress in this sector. In view of the changed scenario in the coconut sector, it was felt necessary to revise the report on production and marketing of coconut and make fresh appraisal of the changing pattern of coconut production, trade and its ancillary industries (Giriappa, 1996). In connection with these, a study is needed for exhibit many facts relating to coconut cultivation and marketing in the study area.

Coconut cultivation and industry play a vital role in the sustainability of the rural economy of Kerala State. Globalization, global warming, acute shortage of labour inputs and high cost of production, huge fluctuation in coconut price, etc. seriously affected this sector. The following paragraphs describe the districtwide area, production and productivity of coconut in Kerala. For Wayanad, Pathanamthitta and Kasaragod districts, the data relating to coconut were not available for the initial periods, since these districts came into being after these periods. Coconut is widely cultivated in all the fourteen districts of the State (Nilakanta, 1995. Sandip, 1997. Bhagban 2000). The area of production is mainly concentrated in the districts of Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kollam, etc. The district– wise area of coconut cultivation in Kerala during the pre-Liberalisation period is presented in the following table.

Considering productivity, India has recorded an increase in percentage of 54 over the period from 1985-86 to 1995-96. In 1983-84 the productivity was only 4983 nuts per hectare which has increased to 7779 nuts per hectare in 1995-96. Productivity increase in the Kerala State is from 3814 nuts per hectare in 1983-84 to 6013 nuts per hectare in 1995-96; in Tamil Nadu the increase is from 9979 nuts per hectare to 14925 nuts per hectare; Andhra Pradesh recorded a significant increase of 13682 nuts per hectare in 1995-96 compared to mere 4138 nuts per hectare in 1983-84; however, Karnataka has seen only marginal increase in productivity from 5204 to 5220 nuts per hectare. The other Indian States with substantial increase in productivity are Maharashtra, Pondicherry and West Bengal. The productivity in 2007-08 in Maharashtra was 8338 nuts per hectare and 12954 nuts per hectare in Tamil Nadu. The

1974-75 to 1982-83. But after 1980s there have been significant variations in productivity of coconut. The exponential growth rate and annual average growth rates are 0.7 and 1.25 respectively. The productivity of coconut during the post-Liberalisation period was the highest in Maharashtra with 15379 nuts per ha. In 1991-92 which decreased to 8338 nuts per ha. In 2007-08. Lakshadweep had the highest productivity of 19630 nuts per ha. In 2007-08 which was 7500 Nuts per ha. In 1990-91. Unlike in the pre-Liberalisation period, the trend in productivity increase noticed for the last two decades has not been encouraging mainly due to less increase in productivity in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

At the national level also, the trend in productivity is not very impressive. Kerala has been showing an increase trend in productivity in the post-Liberalisation period, but it has been at much less rate when we compare the growth of productivity of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra in the pre-Liberalisation period. There has been a significant fluctuation in the productivity of coconut in the post-Liberalisation at the national level and it reestablishes the State-wise trends in productivity, analyzed earlier (Mishra, 2000. Som Nath, 1992). It shows that the reform-related policy changes have a far reaching impact on the coconut economy of India. The exponential growth rate and annual average growth rates are 0.2 and 1.20. The above graph lines show the trend in productivity in the pre and postLiberalisation period. It is very clear that there has been an increasing trend in productivity in the pre-Liberalisation period, but in the post-Liberalisation period there has been stagnation in productivity at the national level and many factors including New Economic Policy related factors are also responsible.

The agro based industry is regarded as an extended arm of agriculture. The development of the agro industry can help stabilize and make agriculture more lucrative and create employment opportunities both at the production and marketing stages. The broad-based development of the agro-products industry was improving both the social and physical infrastructure of India. Further, the average age of the coconut palm is decline stage, so its productivity is reduced. In this situation, the policy makers and other stakeholders are urging to take necessary steps to boost up coconut cultivation practices in the study area. As the consumer price for a coconut farmers getting very low, it clearly shows that the marketing system is not favorable to the farmers. If the government takes necessary steps to regulate coconut marketing process and gives, financial assistance to make value added products from core products it may encourage the coconut production. Coconut play a vital role in offering more employment opportunities to the rural people and it is a profitable venture for all categories of farmers in spite of their high initial investment and the fluctuating nature of nut price. Hence, it deserves a planned and continuous attention from the various stakeholders. The present study has brought out the profitability involved in the cultivation and economic aspects of coconut. The suggestions made in the study are of immense use for the policy makers to make appropriate decision for mitigating the problems faced byte coconut growers.

Bhagban Sarangi (2000). “Economic potential of agro industries in India”, Ibid. Giriappa, S. (1996). “Prospects of agro- processing industry”, Daya publishing House, Delhi. Lathika. M. (2003). “Productivity of coconut cultivation in Kerala”, Unpublished PhD thesis, M.G University, Kottayam. Mishra B.P. (2000). “Food processing industry‟s role in Economic development”, Ibid Nilakanta Mohanty (1995). “Impact of agro-based industries on rural economy”, Radha Publications, New Delhi. Sandip Sarkar (1995). “Size structure of agro-industry: A linkage analysis”, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol.50, No 4, Oct-Dec, pp. 635-648. Sandip Sarkar (1997). “Growth of Agro-industry and it‟s inter relationship with agriculture”, Arthavijnana, Vol. 39, No.2, June, pp. 166-184. Som Nath Sharma (1992). “Socio Economic Study of Agro-industries”, Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p. 23. Sugata Ghose and Raveendran, P. (1993). “A study of coconut oil market of Guwahati, Assam”, Indian Coconut Journal, March, pp. 2-8.