Team Herald
PONDA: The prices of coconut have hit the roof following a poor production this season. Stake-holders, including zonal agricultural office, said mite disease, lack of maintenance work in coconut bagayat, shortage of pluckers, climatic conditions, lack of fresh cultivation among other things are responsible for this scenario.
While many of the vendors attributed the reason for rise in mobile towers, vendors in Ponda market also attributed reasons for shortage as due to excessive conversion and felling of coconut trees for construction purpose.
According to Nagesh Komarpanth Zonal Agricultural Officer (ZAO), Ponda, a major reason for the dip in production has been the mite disease. According to him, the disease has been spreading manifold since the past 10 to 15 years. He said the mite disease has travelled its way to the state through Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and other neigbouring states. The infection is microscopic and hence cannot be detected through the naked eye.
Wind power can help the disease spread up to three km. It attacks small tender coconuts on the tree and sucks into the pulp. This affects the crop size and eventually the fruit dries up. The mite lifespan may be four to five days but that is enough for extensive damage. The tender coconut affected by mite disease should be burnt to stop the spread of the disease. The authorities also said the traditional maintenance work and usage of fertiliser will strengthen the crop health. Coconut growing and maintenance of the crop has become costlier because of rising cost of labour and the shortage of pluckers.
