Incentive for coconut growers to be increased to Rs 30,000

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) under the Ministry of Agriculture has informed that the incentive for coconut growers will be increased to Rs 30,000 from Rs 8,000 per hectare of cultivation. There is lot of potential for coconut cultivation in Thane district and the farmers should make the most use of the opportunities being given by the CDB. As of now, farmers are required to procure the coconut seeds from various other sources, including agricultural universities and nurseries. The CDB has developed a nursery in Palghar where the seeds were being treated and will be given to the farmers from June 1. The CDB also stresses on the flagship programme in which educated unemployed people are trained in various facets of coconut and its care. These people, known as Coconut Mitra, take care of the plantations from cultivation to harvesting. Last year, as against the 75 hectares target for Maharashtra state, only 40 hectares could be brought under coconut cultivation and in Gujarat, as against 50 hectares, 93 hectares were brought under cultivation.