TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Twenty three coconut pluckers including a college going girl, trained by the Directorate of Agriculture to climb, pluck and care for coconut trees are now ready and raring to go.
The seven-day training on “Friends of Coconut Trees – Coconut Climbing and Plant protection measures” was organised by Directorate of Agriculture in collaboration with Coconut Development Board, Government of India, Kochi.
On the occasion of valedictory function after the training, Director of Agriculture S S P Tendulkar urged more youth to undergo these trainings and to take it up as a profitable self employment venture.
“It is not only the low price and low yields that bothers the coconut producers but the acute shortage of coconut pluckers for timely plucking is a serious problem faced by the farmers. If the shortage continues for few more years the farmers will start neglecting their plantations resulting in major crises in coconut industries,” he said.
“Coconut climbing with mechanical devices for plucking and to undertake plant protection measures could become a profitable self employment venture,” he added.
The climbers have been trained to climb trees with the help of a machine developed by the Coconut Board. The machine makes it easy and safe to climb and does not cause any damage or injury to the tree.
Two master trainers were deputed by Coconut Development Board for the above purpose.
The Valedictory function was held at Farmers Training centre, Ela, Old Goa. Director of Agriculture gave away the certificates and the palm climbing devices to all the 23 participants. Madhav Kelkar, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Training) welcomed and Olavio Fernandes, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Horticulture) proposed the vote of thanks.
Olavio Fernandes, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Horticulture), Nevil Alphonso, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Coconut), Shivanand Wagle, Agriculture Officer (Coconut) and Kishore Bhave, Agriculture Officer (Plant Protection) were the other resource persons for the training.
All the trainees are insured for one year. The second batch of training will be held from March 11 to 16 at Rivona, Sanguem and the third batch will be held at Farmers Training Centre, Ela, Old-Goa.
