Question : PRODUCTION OF COCONUT

(a) whether any steps have been taken to avert mite disease which affected to production of coconut in the Southern parts of the country especially in Kerala; and

(b) the amount allocated to each State to eradicate mite disease?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)


(a) The Government have taken following steps to avert mite disease which affected the production of coconut in the southern parts of the country especially in Kerala:-

(i) The Coconut Development Board has brought out booklets/brochures on mite and are extending assistance for training programme. The awareness creation campaigns are continuing where the pest incidence is reported to be very high.

(ii) Project Directorate of Biological Control (ICAR) is continuing field and laboratory trials to develop effective biocontrol measures with natural enemies which offer an effective, cheap, eco- friendly and long-lasting solution to the problem. A Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Horticulture Commissioner with the representatives of States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well as from the three Agricultural Universities, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasargod, Project Directorate of Biological Control and All India Coordinated Project on “Mite” (ICAR) has been formed to review and coordinate the efforts in developing suitable control measures and management of the problem. Besides, the CPCRI and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) are also engaged in research for devising control measures for this pest.

(iii) Biopesticide namely “Soluneem” has been registered by the Registration Committee for the control of coconut mite.

(b) The Government of India has released a sum of Rs.584.00 lakh to Government of Kerala, Rs.104.42 lakh to Government of Tamil Nadu and Rs.150.40 lakh to Government of Karnataka during the year 1998-99 and 1999-2000 under the scheme “Integrated Development of Coconut Industry in India” exclusively for taking up control measures against mite in coconut.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP), has sanctioned a sum of Rs.141.95 lakh for the Research Centres in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka for a Research Scheme “Development of an Integrated Pest Management package for the eriophyid mite of coconut in the Southern States”.