Introduction
India is one of the leading
coconut supplier in the world
producing 13 billion nuts per annum. Grown mostly in the coastal region
of India coconut is a product having multifarious utility. It is
noticeable that almost all the parts of freshly grown coconut, eatable
coconut or dried are used in some or the other manner.
Production area
The following Indian states have abundant of coconut growth : Andhra
Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu,
Tripura, West Bengal, A & N Islands, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.
Growth promotional activities
Policies made by the India government to enhance the growth of coconut
and its allied products, oil etc are as follows:
Establishment of Demonstration cum Seed Production (DSP) Farms for
coconut and coconut nurseries attached. Aid has also been registered /
private / approved for coconut nurseries @ Rs.6 lakhs for a big and Rs.2
lakhs for a small unit. The new planting assistance is given at the rate
of Rs.8000 per hectare, which is disbursed in two equal annual
installments. Financial assistance for setting up of pilot plants for
the integrated coconut processing @ 50% of the cost of building / plant
/ machinery or maximum Rs.5 lakhs.
Types
VHC3 is the recently developed
hybrid coconut in variety. Among
the plantation and spice crops, India is the first country to exploit
hybrid vigor in coconut. Twelve hybrids involving tall and dwarf parents
and 4 varieties have been released for commercial cultivation. These
varieties yield 21 to 89 % more than the local cultivators. Some of the
released varieties are Chandra Kalpa and Pratap (Banawali Green Round).
Chowghat Green Dwarf variety is good for tender coconut purpose.
Groundnut is a major source of cooking oil and protein in India, and in
addition is widely used as a snack food. Groundnut oil comprises 55% of
India's vegetable oil production in a country where cooking oil is the
second largest import item.
