Integrated Farming in Coconut holdings for productivity improvement

Laying out of demonstration plot (100% central assistance)

Under this scheme, full assistance is made available to the coconut growers @ Rs 35000 per ha in two equal installments for two consecutive years for maintenance for existing coconut orchards through adaptations of integrated management practices in disease effected gardens. The objective of the program is to encourage the farmers to adopt the technology developed for the management of the dieses affected coconut gardens. Demonstration plots will also help in motivating in adoption of result oriented production technologies. Fertilizers, pesticides, inter cropping etc. are the critical inputs, for which a miscellaneous expenditure, the financial assistance is provided to the farmer. Each beneficiary is given assistance for a plantation of minimum 0.2 ha or minimum 35 plants to maximum 1 ha or 175 plants only, owned individually incase of scattered plantation. A display board indicating that demonstration plot is financed by the coconut development board shall be erected in front of the plot. Full package of technologies developed for management of coconut gardens shall be followed by the beneficiaries. Record shall be maintained by the farmer as well as department staff indicating all basic information, base yield, operations taken up, inputs applied, yield data, etc.

This programme preferably should be implemented on cluster approach basis which will argument the income of farmers and increase productivity. This will create a visible impact in the farming community. While selecting the cluster, preference should be given for areas with high incidence of pest and dieses. The compact area to be extended of 25 ha shall be selected for implementation of the scheme where a minimum criterion for 35 plants is not applicable. All the small & marginal farmers coming under the cluster shall be consider as beneficiary of the programme based on the suitability of that coconut gardens irrespective of size land holding. Before implementation, the present status of crop as well as the farmers should be recorded and properly documented. Preference should given to groups which are promoted or supported by NGO/ Community based organization/ Co-operative societies. Each cluster should have technical resource groups consisting of field functionaries of the department, SAU, CDB officials and scientists from research station; for monitoring implementation of different components of the program. This recourse group should visit different areas in the cluster in fixed days in a month. A farmer leader should be identifying for each group in the project area and the leader should be trained on all technologies to be adopted in the project area. The technical program and the calendar of operations for the year shall be prepared and distributed to the beneficiary’s immediately for making arrangements for supply of inputs and timely adoption of the management practices. Supply of quality coconut seedlings is to be ensured in the selected clusters for new planting/ under planting.

The Horticulturist/ AHO will select the plantation as well as beneficiary who is having minimum 35 nos. coconuts palms in his garden. Selection of plots shall be based on merit and demonstration value of the plot and shall be done by a committee consisting of officials of the Board and Department of Horticulture. After selection, the farmers will be advised for taking up a suitable inter crop like Banana, Papaya , Ginger, Turmeric, Elephant Foot Yam, Colocasia, Cucurbits,

Black pepper only in the coconut garden based on the inter space available in that garden. Inputs & planning materials should be supplied by the Department Of Horticulture. The farmers will also be advised to apply the said required dose of fertilizers; pesticides to the coconut palms out of which the inputs supplied under this scheme will form a part of such inputs. The rest amount for such input supplied shall be borne by the beneficiary. The component wise break up assistance from the CDB is furnished bellow:-

The basic yield data prior to the adoption of improved packages should be recorded from the plots identified for demonstration purpose

Organic manure unit:

To promote to use of organic manure like vermin compost, coir pith compost, ordinary compost and FYM in coconut holdings, financial assistance of Rs 20000 per unit (50% of the cost of production) is provided for setting up of a unit.

Farmers having coconut gardens shall be selected for the purpose. The organic manure unit shall be set up either in coconut garden or in the backward of the house hold of the farmer. The specification of 1 unit will be 15m x 1.5m x 0.7m with a production capacity of 10MT per cycle. A bamboo shed with a size of 15m x 1.5m x 1.5m has to be constructed over the pit to protect from rain and also prevent evaporation loss. After completion of the construction work, earthworms shall be released inside the pit having green matters following the recommended procedure.Vermi compost shall be obtained after 2-3 months of inoculation and this cycle of production shall be repeated throughout the year. In a year there can be four cycles producing about 40MT of compost. For composting 1 tonne of waste, about 1 kg of earth worm is required. About 1000 average sized worms will weigh 1kg.The worms can be easily multiplied in a mixture of cow dung and compost totally mulched with decaying straw or grasses. Subsidy will be released to the beneficiary after completion of the unit including earthworm rearing. The compost thus produced shall be applied to the coconut palms which will help in increasing the productivity.

However, smaller units can be promoted and financial assistance shall be reduced accordingly.