Coconut Development Board, Kochi (Kerala), a subsidiary of Minister of Agriculture, Government of India, on World Coconut Day on September 2 would be organising a State level workshop “Coconut for better Health, Prosperity and Riches” at capital city Raipur.
Union Agriculture minister and farmers welfare minister Radha Mohan Singh would inaugurate the event while Chhattisgarh agriculture and water resources minister Brijmohan Agrawal would preside over, said CDB officers. Raipur lok Sabha member Ramesh Bais, Bastar MP Dinesh Kashyap, Dharsiwa MlA Devji Bhai Patel, agriculture and cooperative ministry, Government of India officer S K Patnaik and Chhattisgarh ACS Sunil Kujur would also be present.
Officers said that with formation of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) every year it is celebrated as World Coconut Day. It is an international organisation with 18 countries as members mainly from Asia-Pacific region which promotes the coconut related development activities; establish coordination among the members along with economical development. India is founder member of the organisation. In India, the coconut producing states every year takes turn to organise the event.
At Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur and Horticulture department, Government Chhattisgarh is organising the seminar which is likely to be participated by around 500 farmers from all the coconut producing states. An exhibition would also be organised where the latest technology on production of coconut would be displayed.
Different technical sessions would be organised during the workshop. Board officials said that in Chhattisgarh in 12 districts in 1561 hectares are used for coconut farming. Every year state produce around 1.26 crore coconuts. Kondagaon, Jagdalpur, Dhamtari and Kanker are prominent producers. Coconut Development Board has given the farmers around Rs 91.38 lakh assistance to coconut farmers in last three years. Board had established 100 acre exhibition cum-seed production farmer in Kondagaon. Under integrated pest management litchi, mango, guava, lemon, cashewnut, pepper, cocoa, coffe among other are also grown. Different kinds of coconut according to climatic conditions are prepared.
