Coconut thieves frustrate horticulture dept’s plans

The Elite seed coconut farm in East Bengaluru’s Kannamangala is getting ready to be transformed into a mini-Lalbagh, but authorities are facing problems.

Coconut theft is a serious issue in the botanical garden spread over 152 acres on Hoskote Road.

The farm is a unit functioning under the state horticulture department and is home to 3,500 coconut trees of different varieties. Labourers working in the garden said theft is very common as the farm is located on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Villagers enter the farm in the night and pluck away the coconuts from the trees. They specifically target the trees on the periphery closer to the compound wall, a labourer said. “The thieves (villagers) have broken a part of the compound wall in a corner, away from the horticulture office located in the farm,” the labourer added.

A horticulture department official, who wished to be anonymous, said the theft continues despite the presence of the security guards to prevent them. “Generally, they pluck away coconuts in tens. But this doesn’t happen repeatedly,” he said, adding that the department is planning to increase the height of the compound wall.

The farm is also short of labour hands to take care of the trees. “Coconuts need to be taken from the trees and the trees themselves needed to be taken care of. We don’t have enough labourers for that. It has become difficult over the months,” said the official.