Renewed policy and market push for coconut essential to secure growers future: Kota Srinivas Poojary

Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi-Chikkamagalur MP, on January 12, said that coconut, a prominent horticultural crop in coastal Karnataka, requires a renewed policy and market push to secure the future of growers.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Coconut Development Board’s Foundation Day and an awareness programme for farmers in Koteshwara in Kundapur taluk, organised in association with Karnataka’s horticulture and agriculture departments.

Emphasising the need to look beyond raw produce, Mr. Poojary said coconut-based value addition and by-products offered income opportunities to growers. While coconut cultivation has a strong potential in the region, growers continue to face challenges, making collective discussion and planning essential. The workshop, he said, was organised to address these issues and raise awareness among farmers.

The MP further added that 100 per cent wood-pressed coconut oil mills were established in the region, and that they deserve institutional support. Such units are known for not blending harmful chemicals and for promoting unadulterated food, which is crucial for addressing lifestyle diseases, he said.

Sanjeevini groups in the region, Mr. Poojary said, have also taken steps to supply quality food products and should be encouraged. The MP further said value addition has expanded with door-to-door collection of coconut shells, leading to their use in allied industries. The rope industry linked to coconut fibre has also provided additional livelihood opportunities in coastal areas.

Mr. Poojary said some select coconut growers from the region would be visiting Bengaluru within a month to meet the horticulture minister to discuss revamping the production and marketing of Neera, which could further benefit farmers. The future of coconut cultivation, he said, depends on innovation, value-based thinking and policy support. Quoting officials, he said Udupi district has 16,252 hectares under coconut cultivation. The region’s soil and higher rainfall make it suitable for coconut growth.

Coastal Development Board Chairman M.A. Gafoor, Central Plantation Crop Research Institute-Kasargod director K.B. Hebbar, Bharatiya Kissan Sangha president Naveenchandra Jain, Coconut Development Board regional director Rashmi and others were present.