Tribal empowerment by coconut climbing devices at Canacona Taulka, South Goa

    Coconut palm is a branchless tree has a single stem and grows to a tall stature of 10-30 meters height. Management of coconut palm by regular spraying, crown cleaning operations and timely harvest is a manual climbing skilled operation. Manual climbing is a drudgery process and is an occupational hazard in coconut palm. Padeli the person who climbs the coconut is a vanishing occupation making the harvest of coconut a challenging job. Although coconut climbing device is available to ease the operation, the rate of adoption of the device was poor at Goa.

    Hence under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) formerly known as Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) an attempt was made to train tribal people of Canacona Taluk South Goa District to popularise the simple coconut climbing devices and to provide the devices free of cost. The device eases the coconut climbing operation reduces drudgery and generates employment.

    On 12.02.2021 at two villages the demonstration of the devices and distribution was done to 49 persons belonging to Schedule Tribe community. On the morning of 12.02.2021 about 19 beneficiaries native to Shrishtal panchayat received the training and one each free coconut climbing device at Shrishtal. During afternoon session the 30 beneficiaries from Cotigao and Gaodongrim villages were trained and were given coconut climbing devices one each free of cost at Gaodongrim village.

    A total of 49 beneficiaries were demonstrated the use of coconut climbing devices during the day. With the help of climbing devices, the livelihoods of tribal people of the villages receive a boost. Using the devices, the farmers reduce their drudgery and also harvest coconuts at regular intervals, carry out timely intercultural operations to improve the productivity of coconut palm. The activity also brings confidence among the farmers in using device and neighbouring farmers also get motivated to use the device.

    Dr V Arunachalam Principal Scientist (Horticulture) ICAR CCARI Old Goa organised the event and arranged the coconut climbing devices through institute Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) funds with the help of local panchayats and local people.