One of the most common complaints of the coconut
plantation owners in Goa, an issue that has seen many a
coconut wither and fall, is the unavailability of coconut
pluckers. In an effort to make things simpler, Suprajit
Raikar came up with the unique website Padekar.com
that arranges for a ‘padekar’ (coconut plucker) to pluck
coconuts as and when required. Suprajit, who heads
the socio-economic project, explains the state of
the ‘padekars’ and the mission to encourage them to
continue with this traditional occupation.
To make things easier, the website also offers
customers the option of sending an SMS or a WhatsApp
message. “The customer simply has to get in touch
with us via a message. We then send them the required
format asking for address, date, time and the number of
coconuts. Once they send us the required information,
we inform them about the amount to be deposited in
the bank along with bank details. Customers are finding
this service convenient, and the system we follow,
easier, says Suprajit, a software engineer. Padekar.
com is a team effort of Suprajit from Benaulim and his
friends from the Desi Motorcycle Diaries (DMD) Youth
Adventure Club.
Padekar.com offers many a benefit to its registered
‘padekars’ in order to attract more youngsters to be a
part of this initiative. They offer a compensation of Rs 5
lakhs to the family of a ‘padekar’ in the case of accidental
death by falling from the tree. Apart from receiving
wages as per the circular by the agriculture department,
registered ‘padekars’ also receive free treatment for
illness, bruises or cuts caused by their tools.
“Bookings have to be made at least three days
in advance. We have different ‘padekars’ in different
regions so we have to get in touch with them and
confirm the date and timing,” adds Suprajit.
Zillu Rane is a 28-year-old who took on the
traditional family occupation from his father. After his
father passed away, he became the sole bread winner
for the family. “I used to climb small trees first and then
I got the confidence to climb coconut trees. I started
plucking coconuts about five years back using coir
ropes but now I use the machine which is much safer. I
am based in Sankalim, but I also receive requests from
people from the surrounding areas and some even ask
me to remove toddy from the coconut trees,” says the
youngster. Zillu is a registered plucker with Padekar.com.
Abel Barretto, the owner of Goa Krishi Kendr,
Canacona has been promoting the usage of coconut
climbing machine for youngsters. The easy to operate
machine comes with a safety harness and a tutorial CD
for those climbing the tree for the first time. “There is a
subsidy for those buying the machine and there were
many takers for the machine last year. The customers
usually deposit the money in an account and I supply the
machine to any part of Goa. The CD helps any healthy
and physically fit person to climb up a straight coconut
tree with ease and security as the person is protected
with a safety harness. Earlier, the ‘padeli’ used to climb
a tree with just a coir rope locked around his ankle and
sometimes, age or health issues used to render him
unconscious whilst on the tree! This machine prevents
the climber from falling from that height,” explains Abel.
Hopefully, these innovative new methods with
give the dying trade of coconut plucking a much
needed boost
