Issues related to small land holdings among arecanut growers and problems related to implementation of mechanisation in such plantations came in for discussion at a seminar here on Thursday. Delegates at the seminar opined that mechanisation in arecanut sector should help growers with small holdings to improve productivity.
The seminar on ‘Mechanisation in arecanut farming and processing' was organised by the Mangalore-based Arecanut Research and Development Foundation (ARDF).
Initiating the discussions, Dr D.C. Chowta, farm scientist and grower from Kasaragod district in Kerala, said that there are a large number of arecanut growers with small holdings. Though mechanisation has begun in arecanut farming and processing, many growers with small holdings find it difficult to implement them due to the cost involved in their implementation.
Speaking on the problems of small growers, Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of All-India Areca Growers Association, suggested that arecanut mills be set up at village level.
Such mills should be modelled on the lines of rice mills, and should take up the processing activities related to arecanut sector for a fee. The shortage of labour problems can be tackled with this, and small growers can make best use of such a model, he said.
Dr Chowta said that quite a few machineries in farm sector are based on western model. Suggesting the need for designing machineries that can meet the local requirements, he said stress should be given for machineries where a single person can handle them.
Mr P. Ramakrishna Shastri, arecanut grower from Dakshina Kannada district, said that servicing of machines is important. The manufacturers should have a strong team to service the machines, he said.
Mr K. Padmanabha, President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd and Managing Trustee of ARDF, said that the foundation would conduct an exhibition on mechanisation in arecanut sector, in the coming months.
Mr Shree Padre, farmer and expert in rainwater harvesting, said that the exhibition should focus on the area of intra-transport systems in arecanut plantations.
Touching upon farm labour costs, Dr Chowta said that there is a view among a section of growers that the farm labourers are seeking high wages. Giving the example of a tree climber in arecanut plantations, he said the work of that particular person involves high risk. Though that person performs a highly skilled job, it is not taken into consideration by many farmers while giving jobs to such people. Their technical expertise should be considered in such works, he said.
Mr Shastri said that labour shortage in arecanut sector is leading to decline in the technical skills for various operational works in plantations. Referring to the recent ARDF report on production cost of arecanut, he said the maintenance of an acre of white arecanut plantation requires at least 150 farm workers a year. He wondered if the arecanut growing region has manpower to meet the requirements of the sector.