Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje Addresses 25th World Coconut Day at ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, addressed the 25th World Coconut Day celebrations, organized by the Coconut Development Board in association with ICAR-CPCRI, Kasargod, on September 2, 2023.

The minister emphasized the need to undertake coconut cultivation and processing as a commercial enterprise and target the export market to ensure remunerative returns to the smallholder farmers.

25th World Coconut Day Celebrations at ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod

• During the celebrations, Minister, Shobha Karandlaje, asked the framers to make complete use of various developmental schemes introduced by the Government of India such as the Kisan Samman Yojana, PM Fasal Bheema Yojana, and Agricultural Infrastructure Fund to improve production, value addition, and export-oriented trade

• She further highlighted the importance of moving to processing and product diversification thus enabling a shift from copra-centered processing to other products like neera, virgin coconut oil, and coconut chips to ensure better price realization

• The minister also honored ten coconut entrepreneurs at the event

• Vadakara Coconut Farmer Producer Company Ltd, who secured the award instituted by the International Coconut Community for the best Farmer Organisation globally was also felicitated at the event

• An exhibition was organized showcasing various technologies in coconut cultivation and processing and diversified coconut products

• A technical session was also organized followed by a panel discussion on coconut business plans proposed by the Farmers Producers Organisation (FPOs)

• Mode of Actions (MoAs) on technology transfer were executed with seven entrepreneurs in the presence of the Minister.

More than 500 progressive farmers from the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Gujarat attended the programme. Around 25 institutions, entrepreneurs, and FPOs participated in the exhibition. The event was also graced by the following:

• N A Nellikunnu, MLA, Kasargode

• Dr V B Patel, ADG, ICAR, New Delhi

• Renukumar, Vice Chairman, CDB

• P R Muralidharan, President, BAMCO

• Dr B Hebbar, Director, ICAR-CPCRI 

"The Farmer Producer Organizations are capable of revolutionizing the coconut sector by strengthening the collective power of the small and marginal farmers. They can help promote farm mechanization, undertaking agriculture as a business, and export promotion," said, Shobha Karandlaje.