Management
h. Technology Mission on Coconut I. Rejuvenation and Replanting J. Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme K. Kera Suraksha Insurance Scheme L. Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Coconut A. 1 Production and distribution of quality
planting material
a. Establishment of Demonstration cum Seed Production (DSP) Farms in different parts of the country for creating infrastructure facilities for production of quality planting materials besides demonstrating and educating the scientific coconut cultivation and processing to various stake holders in those regions. The Board has established 10 DSP Farms in the States of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Tripura.
It is targeted to produce 10 lakh coconut seedlings during 2017-18 from these ten Farms under the scheme Regional Coconut Nurseries.
b. Establishment of Regional Coconut Nurseries: Extending support to the participating States for strengthening the seedling production programme of the concerned States by establishing
Regional Coconut Nurseries by way of extending financial assistance on 50:50 basis @ Rs.32/-per seedling. The current year allocation is production of 15 lakh coconut seedlings apart from the targets allocated to the DSP Farms. From the year 2017-18, the scheme ‘Distribution of hybrids/
dwarf seedlings in Govt./ Private sector’ is clubbed with the scheme
‘Establishment of Regional Coconut Nurseries’.
c. Establishment of Nucleus Coconut Seed Garden: The scheme is implemented on project basis to establish nucleus seed garden of selected cultivars in the private sector and Govt./Quasi Govt. to meet the future demand of quality coconut seedlings. Assistance is provided for establishing the seed gardens @ 25% of the total expenditure incurred limited to a maximum of Rs. 6 lakh over a period of 3 years, on a project basis in a maximum area of maximum 4 ha. The current year allocation is Rs. 30 lakh for establishing Nucleus Seed Gardens in various states on need basis.
d. Establishment of Small Coconut Nurseries: The scheme is implemented on project basis to encourage private sector and other agencies in seedlings production by providing financial assistance for establishing coconut nurseries.
Financial assistance is 100% of the cost limited to Rs.2.00 lakh per unit of 0.4 ha over a period of two years (100% of the cost of seed nut and transport, maintenance of the nursery, other infrastructure
facilities etc.) for production of 25000 seedlings. Minimum eligible subsidy is Rs.50, 000/- over a period of two years for a unit to produce at least 6250 certified coconut seedlings annually. The current year allocation is Rs. 22.50 lakh for establishing Small Coconut Nurseries in various states on need basis.
5.30 During the period under report, a total of 25 lakh quality coconut seedlings will be produced and distributed to farmers for new planting, replanting and under planting out of which 10 lakh seedlings will be produced in the Nurseries attached to DSP Farms of the Board, 15 lakh seedlings in the Regional Coconut Nurseries established by the Department of Agriculture/Horticulture of the participating states.
A.2 Expansion of Area under Coconut 5.31 The objective of the programme is to extend adequate technical and financial support to the farmers to take up coconut cultivation on scientific lines in potential areas to attain a significant achievement in the future production potential. As per the revised guidelines of MIDH, the differential financial assistance followed.
In Normal area, subsidy will be Rs.6500/- , Rs.6750/- and Rs.7500/- per ha for Tall, Hybrid and Dwarf respectively over a period of 2 years. In Hilly and scheduled areas, subsidy will be Rs.13750/- ,Rs.13750/- and Rs.15000/- per ha for Tall, Hybrid and Dwarf respectively over a period of 2 years.
5.32 During the current year it is targeted for 3760 ha area coverage under new planting of coconut utilizing Rs. 250 lakh.
A3. Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement
5.33 The objective of the programme is to improve production and productivity of the coconut holdings through an integrated approach and thereby increasing the net income from unit holdings with the following component programmes.
(a) Laying out of Demonstration Plots:
5.34 Financial assistance of Rs.35,000/- per hectare in two annual installments is provided for adoption of integrated management practices in disease affected gardens. The objective of the programme is to encourage the farmers to adopt the technology developed for the management of coconut gardens.
The Demonstration Plots will also help motivate farmers in adoption of result oriented production technologies. During the year 2017- 18, it is proposed to implement the scheme in all coconut growing states through various State Governments and directly by the Board through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) covering an area of 25818 ha and maintenance of 20387 ha of the previous year with a total financial outlay of Rs.
7370.45 lakh. An amount of Rs.
4134.32 lakh has been incurred upto 31.12.2017 under this scheme.
(b) Assistance for Organic Manure Units:
5.35 The objective of the programme is to promote the use of
coir pith compost etc in coconut holdings. Financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of Rs.60,000/- per unit is extended for establishing organic manure production unit measuring 60’ x 8’ x 2.5’ with a production capacity of 80 tonnes/
year in 4 cycles. The size of the units may vary and the subsidy is proportionate. The minimum subsidy under this scheme is Rs.
7500/- for a unit of size 15’ x 5’ x 2’.
Out of the total allocation of Rs.
40 lakh for establishment of 100 organic manure units during 2017-18, Rs. 36.30 lakh has been released upto December, 2017 for establishing 105 units for promoting the use of organic manures in coconut gardens in various states.
A4. Technology Demonstration
5.36 The CDB Institute of Technology (CIT) at Aluva, Ernakulam in Kerala is engaged in the development and demonstration of technologies for product diversification and by-product utilization of coconut. Training is being given to interested entrepreneurs and self help groups for acquiring technologies on post harvest coconut processing and process demonstration. Training imparted to 287 participants from April to October 2017. A fullfledged NABL accredited Quality Testing Laboratory (QTL) is operating at CIT for chemical and microbial analysis of coconut based products. The laboratory is equipped with advanced analytical instruments and modern facilities as per NABL requirements to carry out chemical/
microbiological tests of coconut based products. During the period 301 Samples
under Chemical Section and 165 samples have been analysed for 504 parameters under Microbiological Section. CIT has provided internship to 13 undergraduate and postgraduate students on various projects on value addition in coconut.
A.5) Marketing, market Intelligence services, Statistics and Strengthening of Export Promotion Council
1. The Board undertakes market promotion activities for the development of the coconut sector in the country and the industry as mandated by the Coconut Development Board Act. The major activities comprise of Market Promotion, Market Intelligence, Market Research, Market Development, formation of Coconut Producer Societies (CPSs), Federation of Coconut Producers’
Societies (CPFs), Coconut Producer Companies, and performing the responsibilities of Export Promotion Council and other enabling policies.
2. The Board submitted its
recommendations for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milling as well as ball copra in July 2017 for the computation of CACP for the season 2018 based on the cost of cultivation of coconut and the cost of conversion into copra. The existing MSP announced by the Government of India for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) milling copra is Rs. 6500 per quintal and that of FAQ of Ball Copra at Rs. 6785 per quintal for the season 2017.
Farmer Producers organization (FPOs) 5.37 The Board facilitates the formation of Farmer Producer Organization with the main objective of socio economic development of coconut farmers through productivity improvement, cost reduction, efficient aggregation, processing for value addition, better by-product utilization and efficient
marketing of the produce. The Coconut Farmer Producer Organizations promoted by the Board have a three tier structure consisting of Coconut Producer Society (CPS), Coconut Producer Federation (CPF) and Coconut Producer Company (CPC).
5.38 The Board has initiated the formation of CPSs by associating 40-100 coconut growers in a contiguous area with a consolidated minimum of 4000-6000 palms. CPFs are formed by aggregation of 15-25 CPSs as its members and having 1,00,000 bearing palms, and further to CPCs having 10 CPFs and 10,00,000 bearing palms.
5.39 As on 31.12.2017, a total of 9510 CPSs, 735 CPFs and 67 CPCs have been registered with Board in different States.
A.6 Information and Information Technology
5.40 The Board has several programmes under Information and Information Technology and HRD with a view to disseminate information on various aspects of coconut cultivation and industry through various media, publications etc besides organizing training programmes to impart skills and knowledge to farmers, unemployed youths and rural women in various fields viz., FoCT, Neera Technician and Handicraft training related to coconut.
For recognizing outstanding performance in coconut sector a scheme of National Awards is also being implemented biannually. Production of publications, undertaking multimedia product promotional campaigns, participation in domestic and international exhibitions and fairs, management of MIS in the organization etc; are the major activities undertaken under the scheme.
5.41 To create awareness, Board participates in several exhibitions, seminars etc. As part of awareness creation, Board has organised World Coconut Day celebrations on 2nd
September 2017 across the country through all unit offices.
5.42 The major exhibitions participated by Coconut Development Board during the current financial year are Champaran Fair 2017 at Motihari East, Bihar, Annapoorna World Food 2017 at Mumbai, International Symposium on Horticulture Exhibition at IIHR – Hesaraghatta, Bangalore, International seminar on Traditional and Alternative medicine at Palai, Kottayam, Hotel Tech Kerala 2017 at Ernakulam, 6th edition of Agri Fest 2017 at, Lucknow, Meri Dilli Utsav 2017 at New Delhi, Destination Himachal Pradesh Expo 2017 at Solan, Himachal Pradesh, Aahar – The Food and Hospitality Fair at Navi Mumbai.
5.43 A total amount of Rs. 476.07 lakh has been spent upto 31.12.2017, out of the total allocation of Rs.750 lakh during the year under report.
Friends of Coconut tree
5.44 With a serious view to tackle the problem of acute shortage of trained coconut palm climbers for harvesting and plant protection activities, the Board is conducting a massive programme, “Friends of Coconut Tree”
to train underemployed youth in developing special skills and confidence in coconut palm climbing and plant protection activities for the benefit of the coconut community as a whole.
As on 31.12.2017, 1750 youth have been trained during the year, leading to a cumulative total of 59880 persons under this programme.
Neera Technician Training Programme 5.45 Board has undertaken the initiative of developing a pool of skilled Neera Technicians after the amendment of Abkari rule in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Extracting neera requires technically skilled persons to perform activities such as climbing tree, skillfully stimulating the inflorescence, application of
a hygienic manner. Hence from the 2014-15, Board is organizing Neera Technician training programme. So far 2617 Neera Technicians were trained through FPOs.
A7 Infrastructure & Administration including Technical Services & Project Management
5.46 During the year 2017-18, an amount of Rs.
3000 lakh is allocated under Infrastructure&
Administration including Technical Services
& Project Management and Rs. 2398.15 lakh has been spent upto December 2017.
The recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission have been implemented during the year.