(a) the details of the steps taken by the Coconut Development Board to modernize the coconut cultivation as well as value addition of different coconut products;
(b) the details of the results of such activities achieved during the last three years and current year;
(c) the progress that has been made so far by the Board in solving the problem ofroot-welt disease of coconut; and
(d) the other steps taken by the Coconut Development Board to promote the production of coconut in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)
(a) & (d): The Government of India, through Coconut Development Board has been implementing the following schemes to modernize coconut cultivation and value addition of coconut products in the country:
(i) Production & Distribution of Planting Material; (ii) Expansion of Area under Coconut with high yielding varieties; (iii) Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement; (iv) Technology Mission on Coconut; (v) Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens;
The Government of India through Coconut Development Board has also taken following steps for promoting the production of coconut in the country:
(i) Technologies for processing and packaging;
(ii) Establishing processing units for commercial production;
(iii) Thematic promotion of tender coconut and coconut products through print and electronic media;
(iv) Promoting formation of Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs);
(v) Skill Development Training Programmes (Friends of Coconut Tree (FoCT).
(b):Results of activities of the Coconut Development Board from the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 is Annexure.
(c):Research on solving the problem of Root (wilt) disease is carried out by Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
In order to contain root-wilt disease Coconut Development Board has been implementing “Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens” scheme in Kerala with objective to rejuvenate coconut plantations through cutting and removal of disease advanced (root wilt), senile and unproductive palms and replanting and rejuvenation of coconut palms by adopting better agronomic practices for improving the producti- vity of coconut palms.
The Scheme was implemented in three root wilt affected districts, Trivandrum, Kollam and Thrissur in the 1st phase and 17.66 lakh of palms were removed with financial assistance of Rs. 15847.35 lakh. Besides 146385 ha were rejuvenated by adopting better management practices.
The scheme is being continued in 2nd phase in the remaining 11 districts of Kerala from 2013-14 through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). So far 11,74,792 old, senile and disease advanced palms were removed under this scheme and rejuvenation of 121541.98 ha are in progress.