KOCHI: Coconut production during the 2016-17 crop season (July to June) is likely to decline compared to the previous season, according to a survey by the Coconut Development Board.
Coconut production during the last season was estimated at 20,789 million, which was more than 6% lower than that of the previous season, said a statement issued by the board here on Monday.
The study was conducted in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The estimates by the board point to increased production in West Bengal and Maharashtra, while Andhra Pradesh has shown a slight fall in production. Meanwhile, the production in the other major coconut producing States has declined. The highest decline of 15.86% is in Gujarat. The production in Odisha has declined by more than 10%. Kerala, a major producer of coconuts, witnessed a decline of 8.47%, while the production in Tamil Nadu is down by 5.85%, and that in Karnataka has come down by 5.17%.
Andhra Pradesh has the highest nut productivity at 13,617 nuts per hectare per year, while Odisha has the lowest productivity of 5,782 nuts per hectare.
Kozhikode district accounts for the highest productivity in Kerala. It has recorded 11,972 nuts per hectare, while Malappuram has a productivity of 11,840 nuts per hectare. Idukki has the lowest productivity in the State at 1,856 nuts per hectare.
