PANJIM: Director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso on Tuesday said that farmers, government support and consumers are the three key players for sustaining of coconut sector for present and future generation.
He was speaking during celebration of World Coconut Day organised by the Directorate of Agriculture in collaboration with the State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Goa and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency, North Goa at the Krishi Bhavan, Tonca-Caranzalem. The theme for this year was Sustaining Coconut Sector for the Present and Future Generation.
Explaining about the three key players for sustaining of coconut sector for future generation, Alphonso said, farmers should use modern technology for growing coconut production. Secondly, the government’s support can also help farmers in many ways and thirdly every consumer and citizen should try to use coconut in their day-to-day life so that will persuade the farmers to increase the production.
Alphonso further said, people in the State mainly use coconut for cooking, extracting oil and making desiccated coconut. To create awareness for farmers about handicraft product that can be made using coconut shell and husk, display of handicraft product has exhibited today. Farmers can also generate income by selling coconut shell, which will also help in increasing coconut shell industries in the State, he added.
Coconut is considered as traditional plantation crop of Goa and also called as “Kalpavruksha”and hold an essential place in the life of people of the State, Alphonso said.
Addressing the gathering, Sharathkumar G, Technical Officer, Coconut Development Board, Bengaluru, said ever year September 2 is celebrated as World Coconut Day. Stating the importance of coconut, he said it is well suited for ecological maintenance and can preserve biodiversity compared to other plant this it is a unique crop in entire plantation crop.
A technical bulletin on coconut was also released at the occasion.
Various technical session such as scientific coconut cultivation by Kishor Bhave, project director, ATMA – North; processing, packaging and marketing of coconut by Vinod Atkari, assistant professor, Goa College of Agriculture, Ela, Old Goa and schemes for coconut development by Sharathkumar G, were conducted.
On the occasion, Pratama Rane was felicitated for her participation in ‘Jackfruit Festival’ organised by Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) North Goa in association with Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula and the Directorate of Agriculture.
Prizes were also distributed to the winners of coconut cooking competition.
