PANAJI
The State government has admitted on the record that coconut yields and production have fallen drastically over the last three years.
According to Agriculture Minister, Ravi Naik, Goa's coconut production in 2022-23 was approximately 16.31 crore nuts and it dropped to just about 15 crore nuts in the last agricultural year (2024-25), nearly 1.3 crore nuts less in a year and in percentage points a worrying 6.26% dip.
In terms of yields, 6,113 nuts were produced per hectare in 2022-23 and it dipped to just 5,625 nuts per hectare last year, again in percentage terms a nearly 6.35% drop.
The agriculture department has attributed this decline in coconut production to pests, ageing trees and neglect of coconut groves by horticulturists due to dearth of labour and high costs of inputs such as fertilizer application.
Another reason that the department cites is damage caused to the flowering parts of the coconut palm, young shoots and immature coconuts by monkeys, squirrels and such other animals, which negatively impacts yields.
This information was furnished by Naik in a written reply to a query posed by Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares Ferreira during the recently concluded monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.
Some measures being taken to remedy the situation Naik said, includes, interaction with coconut growers by taluka level agriculture officials to understand the field level issues such as pest attacks, poor irrigation, fertilizer application among others.
He said, assistance is also taken from CCARI-ICAR scientists at Old Goa besides other agriculture science agencies for specific issues and feedback.
Naik also said that Coconut Development Board schemes are being implemented for re-planting and rejuvenation ageing coconut groves.
Agriculture department officials, meanwhile opine that another factor contributing to lower yields and production is the large number of coconut growers harvesting nuts prematurely (tender coconuts) because of the high demand from tourists and as a more lucrative option.
