country, having 0.02 million hectares of area under coconut cultivation in the state, i.e.
1.03 per cent of the total area and production of 3.24 million nuts i.e. 2.19 per cent of the total coconut production in the country.
In West Bengal, coconut is mainly grown as homestead land crop and gradually gaining the status of plantation crop in the state. About eighty per cent of the coconut production is harvested as tender nuts due to age old habitual consumption habit of coconut water as natural drink by the inhabitants in general. The high intensity consumption of tender coconut water by the local population in West Bengal may be attributed to the realization of its medicinal and therapeutic uses by the commoners. The main coconut producing area in the state falls under districts of North 24 Paraganas, South 24 Paraganas, Murshidabad, Midnapore, Howrah, Burdwan, Hoogly and Nadia.
The coconut plantation has also gained considerable importance in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Bihar districts in North Bengal. North Dingjpur, South Dinajpur and plain areas of Darjeeling in Northern part. Traditionally most of the homestead gardens have tall varieties of palm, viz. ECT, WCT, Philippines ordinary, Jamaica tall and hybrids Malayam yellow dwarf, Malayam orange, Dwarf (MGT). In recent times dwarf varieties are gaining popularity in the state because of there early bearing characteristic and dwarf stature of the palm.
4.15 Coconut in the North Eastern Region : North-Eastern region comprising states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim accounts for nearly eight per cent of the country’s geographical area. The topography of the region ranges from hills and mountain to reverine plains and plateaus.
The climatic condition in the region varies from temperate to sub-tropical and tropical.
The agro-climatic conditions of the region, varied soil types and abundant rainfall are favourable for cultivation of horticultural crops especially plantation crops. Coconut is one of the most popular crop grown for a long time especially in Assam state and in recent times in others N.E. states. The area and production which were 11,000 hectares and 60 million nuts, respectively, during 1985–86, have now increased to 40,000 hectares and about 178 million nuts, in the North Eastern Region. The cultivation which was confined to Assam, Tripura and to some extent in Manipur, has now spread to states like Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya due to efforts made by Coconut Development Board.
4.15.1 Assam : Assam is naturally enriched with favourable soil and climatic conditions for coconut plantation, yet the coconut is cultivated as homestead crop in the state. The homestead plantation of coconut has been observed on the northern bank of the river Bramhaputra and selected areas in the southern bank as a homestead crop in sporadic manner. Since coconut is ritually esteemed in the social and religious life of the people in the state, the nuts are used for religious purpose and for consumption as tender nuts.
In Assam coconut cultivation is mainly concentrated in Bramhaputra valley. The coconut production in the state has shown increasing trend in the last two decades. In 1999-2000 the production of coconut was 150.1 million nuts from an area of 20238 hectares, which further increased to about 161 per cent in production and 152 per cent in area as compared to 1985-1986. However by 2004-05, there was marginal increase in area i.e. 21.3 thousand hectares, with total production of 154.3 million nuts. The coconut palms are grown in almost all the twenty three districts of Assam. Among these districts, Nagaon leads in area with 5035 hectares and production of 60.72 million nuts which alone comes to 40 per cent of the total coconut production of the state. Kamrup and Nalbari districts are next to Nagaon in area under coconut plantation. Coconut plants are mainly grown as rain fed crop without much care or crop management system. The other districts in which the coconut cultivation is scattered are Nalbari, Barpeta, Morigaon, Darrang, Kamrup, Sonitpur, Karimganj and Cachar.
The most adopted variety of cultivar grown in Assam is ‘Assam Green Tall’
named as Kamrupa variety. The other varieties released for cultivation in Assam are Assam Tall, Bengal Hazari, Bengal selected WCT, TxD hybrid ‘Chandrasankaran’
variety has also been recommended under the agro climatic condition of the state.
Coconut being a monocrop is not economical; high-density-multi-species cropping
system is promoted among small holding farmers for maximizing return per unit area of land. Coconut crop in Assam is comparatively free of many diseases. The important disease affecting coconuts are bud rot and stem bleeding. Recently, Gonoderma wilt, has been reported from several parts of Assam. Major pest of coconut are Rhinoceros beetle and Red palm weevil.
The Coconut Development Board had released subsidy for new plantation to about 17800 beneficiaries under the area expansion scheme covering 326 hectares.
Further, from 1985-86 onwards, an incentive subsidy @ Rs.8000/- per hectare was provided to individual growers for new planting of coconut.
In spite of the favourable agro-climatic condition for the coconut cultivation in Assam, the growth in this sector has been sluggish on account of planting of sub standard seedlings and non-availability of adequate ‘Kamrupa’ variety released by the Assam Agricultural University for planting, lack of scientific management practices by the farmers, improper nutrient management, lack of regular manuring and fertilizer application practices. Boron deficiency is very prominent in all the district of the state.
Further the outbreak of ‘Gonoderma’ disease is epidemic in some district, lack of infrastructure for irrigation and absence of post harvest mangement infrastructure facilities for processing, marketing of coconut products, are some of the problems in the way of commercialization of coconut industry in Assam.
4.15.2 Arunachal Pradesh : Arunachal Pradesh is endowed with its undulating topography and varied agro-climatic conditions. The humid and hyperthermic climate in foothill region is quite suitable and congenial for growing coconut. The Coconut Development Board, under the area expansion programme brought an area of 300 hectares under coconut cultivation. The coconut area falls in parts of Changland, Teju and Passighat districts. Besides, these districts, certain area like Mahadevpur, Namsai, Bordumsa Deomali, Roing, Sonpura have been found comparatively suitable for coconut plantation.
4.15.3 Manipur : In Manipur, about 20,000 hectares has been estimated as potential area for coconut cultivation. It has been reported that some area of Chandel district near Moreh, Jiribam of Imphal East district, Tousem Sub-division of Tamenglong and parts of Kamjong and Ukhrul bordering Myanmar are suitable for growing coconut. In 1989-90 with the assistance of Coconut Development Board, 840 seedlings were planted covering 10 hectares of land in the state.
4.15.4 Meghalaya : Meghalaya, states do have certain tracts where coconuts are grown in homestead gardens. In Meghalaya, about 5000 hectares land estimated to have potential to grow coconut. The central plateau of Garo Hills and planes bordering Assam are the coconut growing zones. By the year 1999-2000, the state had 1.70 thousand hectare land under coconut plantation and production of 5.21 million nuts with productivity of 3065 nuts per hectare.
4.15.5 Mizoram : Mizoram has the lowest plantation of coconut i.e. 0.28 thousand hectares producing 0.64 million nuts with productivity of 2857 nuts per hectare. The total estimated potential area has been reported as 5,000 hectares. Parts of Aizwal and Lunglai districts adjoining Assam and Tripura are the coconut growing areas.
4.15.6 Nagaland : Nagaland is a non-traditional area for coconut cultivation, where coconut palms are found as an ornamental plant in the back yard plantation of the local population. The tropical climate in the foot hill area and temperate climate in the hilly region with abundant rainfall spread over seven months offers some scope for coconut cultivation as plantation crop. The foot hill belt of Nagaland bordering Assam state from Jalukie area in Kohima district to Tizid valley in Mon district, Wokha and Mokochang districts are identified as suitable zones for coconut cultivation.
The Coconut Development Board has created awareness among the farmers of Nagaland and introduced area expansion scheme under coconut cultivation. In the year 1992-93, the area covered under the scheme was 642.94 hectares i.e.47.278 per cent of the total area estimated under coconut cultivation. The scheme covered 733 beneficiaries who received the subsidy or Rs.22.518 lakhs. The Coconut Development Board, Government of India was instrumental in establishing Regional coconut Nursery as State Horticultural Nursery at Dimapur to provide quality planting material to the farmers.
4.15.7 Tripura : Tripura is a hilly state in North Eastern Region of India having suitable soil, hot and humid climate for favourable growth of coconut palm. Coconut cultivation was initiated in the state as homestead garden and on the boundary bunds of ponds.
Although, coconut thrives well in Tripura but the productivity is lowest in the country due to planting of poor quality seedlings and lack of adoption of scientific management practices. In Tripura during 1999-2000, the total area under coconut was estimated to 9100 hectares and production of 7.5 million nuts. The numbers of bearing and non-bearing palms were 786820 and 866428 respectively. The productivity of 824 nuts per hectare is lowest in the country. The coconut plantation in Tripura is comparatively free from common disease affecting the coconut palms. The major pests affecting coconuts are Rhinoceros beetle and Red palm weevil, termite, rat, squirrel and others are causing problems in different areas in Tripura.
The Coconut Development Board under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India has undertaken expansion of area under coconut in Tripura since 1982, under the programme minimum number of seedlings to be planted was 10 numbers and the maximum limit for availing subsidy was 4 hectares. The present rate of subsidy is Rs 8000 per hectares. The coconut grower, who plants minimum 10 seedlings, can get Rs.250 as a subsidy, in both first and second year. The area covered under expansion programme in 1985-86 was 54.686 hectares with number of beneficiaries 402 by 1994-95, the area covered increased to 172.2 hectares with number of beneficiaries as 2344, in the year 2000-01, in the area expansion programme, it covered 46.049 hectares with the number of beneficiaries as 616. Thus, the total area covered was 1098.694 hectares and the number of beneficiaries were 18,973 with total subsidy distributed was Rs.29, 03157.