Coconut societies to unite small and marginal farmers

The Coconut Development Board will initiate programmes to extend help to farmers through producers' societies.

The Board Chairman, Mr T.K. Jose, said these societies will be responsible for procuring, processing and marketing activities.

Though the cooperative movement is deep-rooted in many of the coconut-growing States, most coconut farmers remain unorganised even now. The efforts taken to increase the production and productivity of coconut from small and marginal holdings show poor results, he said.

CPS

The board has come forward to encourage farmers to form Coconut Producers' Societies (CPS). The plan is to unite small and marginal farm holders and register them under the Charitable Societies Act.

These societies will enable farmers practice scientific farming practices. They will offer an opportunity to farmers to get acquainted with new technologies in production, plant protection, processing, and marketing, leading to reduction in the cost of cultivation. Quality planting material, fertilisers, and pesticides will be made available at reasonable prices.

Establishment of small and medium nurseries, extension of financial assistance to establish organic manure units and copra dryers, offering better opportunities for marketing and participation in study tours and exhibitions, will be among the objectives of the societies. Procurement, pooling, and marketing of tender coconuts will be another task.

The societies will get the priority for financial and technical assistance to establishcoconut-processing units. Opportunities will be provided to establish medium-scale units through a federation of societies with financial aid from the board. Such units will be able to export coconut and coconut products and will function as recognised procurement centres to implement the price support scheme of the Government.

Farmers who have at least 10 bearing palms can be members of the CPS and should be enrolled as members of the CPS of the area. There can be around 40 to 100 members in a society.

Admission fee

The admission fee will be Rs 100 and the annual subscription is Rs 20. The societies should not have any political interests and should function democratically.

An executive committee comprising an elected president and six executive committee members will govern the society. Such societies should be registered with the CDB. The society will act as a link between the board and the farmer.