World Coconut day celebration at Goa center on 02.09.2023

The World Coconut Day was celebrated at Arlem Raia, Salcete-Goa by the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Palms –Goa Centre and Schedule Tribe Component (STC) of ICAR-CCARI, Goa. Forty farmers from the tribal community participated in the event.

The event was chaired by Dr. V Arunachalam, Principal Scientist (Horticulture) and Scientist in charge of AICRP (Palms) Goa center, Dr. Shripad Bhat, Senior Scientist (Agricultural Economics) and Dr. Parmesha V. Scientist (Agronomy) & Co-ordinator STC of ICAR CCARI Old Goa also participated in this event.

Dr. Arunachalam briefed the farmers on the importance of coconut crop, varieties, selection of seedlings, and shared how to enhance the productivity of coconut. He also highlighted the water, nutrient management, pest & disease management of coconut crops. Two demonstration video were shown to farmers on how to operate a coconut climbing device and how to perform the root feeding of coconut palm.

Dr. Shripad Bhat highlighted the importance of coconut in village economy and role of market intelligence in earning higher farm income. Dr. Parmesha V. shared various activities of Schedule Tribe Component (STC) undertaken for the benefits of farming community.

Queries by farmers on coconut planting were also addressed. A competition was organized for women beneficiaries on using coconut dehusking device. The three women who completed the coconut dehusking using coconut dehusking device in the fastest manner were rewarded. The program ended with the distribution of 40 coconut seedlings of improved varieties (Malayan Yellow Dwarf  a dwarf variety and Benaulim, a Goan local variety currently conserved at national/state-level agencies). Five coconut climbing devices and twenty five coconut de-husking devices were also distributed. The devices and seedlings were given free of cost to the farmers under the Schedule Tribe Component (STC) of ICAR-CCARI, Goa.

The event was coordinated by Dr. V Arunachalam, Mr Romaldo Gonsalves farmer representative. Mr. Pandurang D Bhagat, Project Associate rendered technical assistance in organizing this event.