Tribal empowerment by demonstration of usage of coconut climbing devices

    Coconut palm is an important horticultural crop of Goa state occupying 25,000 ha area. Coconut is used extensively in Goan recipes and forms major part in social and religious functions. Management of coconut palm by regular spraying, crown cleaning operations and timely harvest is a manual climbing skilled operation. Manual climbing is a laborious and drudgery process and is an occupational hazard for farm workers of coconut gardens. Padeli the person who climbs the coconut is a vanishing occupation making the harvest of coconut a challenging job.
    Hence under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) formerly known as Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) an attempt was made to train tribal people 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 07.04.2021 at ICAR CCARI Old Goa, the demonstration of the devices and distribution was done to 5 persons belonging to Schedule Tribe community.
A total of 5 beneficiaries (four belonging to Goa Velha village and one from Chimbel village) 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 people.