Farmers in the district on Wednesday asked the Coconut Development Board to start its office in Erode similar to that in Pollachi, during a buyer-seller awareness camp held here. Over 250 growers participated in the camp.
The meeting conducted on the directives of Agriculture Production Commissioner and Director or Agriculture Marketing sensitised farmers to the approach towards doubling production and tripling income through exposure to bio-control of pests, particularly red-palm weevil and rhinoceros beetle, and avenues of marketing. Insurance schemes were also explained.
According to R.M. Subramanian, Deputy Director, Agri-Business, who addressed the participants, the growers would be facilitated to derive the benefits through formation of Farmer-Grower Companies and securing FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) certification for production of value-added products.
Coconut trees are grown on 6,000 hectares in Erode district, and copra produced in Avalpoondurai and Modakurichi area are sourced by coconut oil mills at Kangeyam in neighbouring Tiruppur district. Farmers will be provided technology support and encouraged to establish their own oil extraction units in Erode, Mr. Subramanian said, adding that presence of Coconut Development Board office in Erode will pave way for broad-basing value-addition initiatives. Joint Director of Agriculture In-Charge Viswanathan urged farmers to utilise the government schemes for value addition through setting up agri-processing units.
