Her mobile never stops ringing. Meet Suchitra R.(30), a resident of Mattu village in Udupi district, who has not only stormed the male bastion of climbing and plucking coconuts from off the trees, but is also a master at it. You have to see her to believe it.
There is a shortage of skilled persons who can climb coconut trees in the region, and Suchitra ably fills this space. Though Suchitra has completed her Pre-University Course and done a course in secretarial practice at the ITI in Udyavara, she was lured to the trade when a team of agricultural scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Brahmavar, visited her village. Suchitra happened to meet the KVK programme coordinator, Jayalaxmi Hegde, and he told her of the weeklong training being given at the KVK to climb coconut trees with the help of a climbing device.
“I liked the idea and enrolled for the course. The KVK provided the device free of cost after I completed the course. After the training, I took up the profession early this year,” she said.
Despite being educated, she did not shy away from the profession. In fact, her family members, including her husband Umesh, supported her. “The fact that there is a shortage of coconut pluckers, and the desire to do something new and try something which only men did, prompted me to take it up,” she said.
Though most people are surprised to see her scrambling up a coconut tree, almost all appreciate her for it. “People have responded positively to my taking up this profession. I am glad when people recognize me,” she said.
Suchitra gets about 10 calls a day for her service. The number of coconuts on a tree varies from five to 30. She charges Rs. 30 for climbing one tree. “I enjoy my job and am happy about it. I am self-employed. What more can I ask?” she said.
The people of Mattu are all praise for her. Vasu Poojary, a farmer, who grows paddy, brinjals and coconuts on an acre of land, said it was difficult to find coconut climbers. “In the beginning, I was surprised to find Suchitra climbing up a coconut tree, but we are all proud of her achievement. Besides, coconut tree-climbers are a dire necessity now,” he said.
Sarojini, a homemaker, said: “I am happy that a woman has achieved this. I want other women to learn it. Suchitra is a role model for other women.”
