JOIN USThe drought has taken a heavy toll on coconut trees in the taluk.
Hundreds of coconut trees look dry and stunted, several are without fronds and nuts. As a result, the price of coconuts has increased drastically. Without crop in hand, the farmers are let down.
The coconut business was dull at the Kadur APMC market in the recent days. In October, farmers got Rs 8,000 to Rs 9000 per 1,000 coconuts. Now, 1,000 coconuts are worth Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000.
The price of de-husked coconut was Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 a quintal, which requires 70 to 75 coconuts. For the consumer, it is Rs 19 to Rs 22 a coconut. The medium and small coconuts fetch Rs 13 to Rs 15 each. With the decline in production, the production of copra has also declined.
Farmers said "The farmers who are in distress are turning towards other alternative crops. Majority of them are not keen on cultivating coconuts."
Horticulture Department Kadur assistant director C Manjunath said, "To rejuvenate coconut groves, the Department has been supplying saplings at a concession rate. About 4,000 saplings are ready for distribution in the Sakharayapattana nursery. Under the rejuvenation programme, one village has been selected for planting coconut saplings on a pilot basis."
Statistics
Area under coconut cultivation: 29,750 hectare
Coconut groves affected areas: 14,579 hectare
50% of coconut trees affected areas: 12,473 hectares