It has also called the opposition to the government’s move as politically-motivated and polarising.
At a press conference on Friday, CFA clarified that it is neither pro- nor anti-development and that the previous government had put the coconut farmers in trouble by including the tree in the Act.
“The past government suddenly realised that the green cover in Goa was going down and, without taking the farmers into consideration, included the coconut tree in the Trees Act. This has destroyed our plans for the improvement of farming,” said Dinar Barros, a coconut farmer and CFA member.
He and the five other farmers who addressed the press conference have farms of over 1 lakh coconut trees in South Goa.
The farmers further claimed that the inclusion of the coconut tree in the Act has actually hampered the production of coconuts.
“Just because the coconut tree is withdrawn from the list of trees under the Tree Act, it does not get classified as grass. Similar trees like areca nut, and cashew, which are commercially-grown plantations, are not included in the Act. This does not make them grass,” said Dinar.
GFA also stated, “Being classified as a commercial oilseed crop nationwide, coconut tree plantations will be devoid of all commerce if it is declassified and brought under the purview of the Trees Act. In Goa, the traditional toddy-tappers and pluckers will be rendered jobless. In the absence of toddy, feni distilleries will shut down. The people living in thatched roof huts and tiled roof houses will be rendered homeless as they depend on coconut leaves and rafters (vanxe) of coconut timber.”
CFA also recalled that the farmers had, in fact, given a memorandum to the government to declassify the coconut tree as their business was taking a severe beating due to lack of freedom to cut old, unproductive trees.
“The future of coconut production and financial viability depends on the value addition to the by-products, like coconut feni and toddy. That will be possible only when there is freedom to undertake agriculture,” said Hansel Vaz, representative of the feni industry.
