Kochi: Kerala and Andhra Pradhesh recorded steep reduction in coconut production while Tamil Nadu and West Bengal improved their numbers in 2014-15, according to the statistical survey conducted by the Coconut Development Board (CDB). National production has come down by over 10 per cent.
Production in Kerala, which has an estimated 18 crore coconut trees, came down from 592 crore nuts to 488 crore nuts, recording a drop of 17.48 per cent from the previous year.
While the production declined in Idukki, Kottayam and Kollam districts, it went up significantly in Alappuzha. Shortage of rain and pest/disease are the causes reported for decline in production. Kozhikode is the highest coconut producing district in the state followed by Malappuram. Productivity in the state is estimated to be 6,042 nuts per hectare.
Coconut production came down by more than 50 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, where it dropped from 167 crore to 78 crore, thanks to the two cyclonic storms lashed in Andhra coast in last two years.
All the four major coconut growing districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Srikakulam and Vizhakapatnam showed a major decline in production. East and West Godavari are the major coconut producing districts in the state. The yield is estimated to be 7,614 nuts per hectare.
The production went up slightly in Tamil Nadu from of 466 crore to 485 crore, with a yield of 11,319 nuts per hectare. Coimbatore district is the largest producer, followed by Thanjavur. In Karnataka, production declined from 433 crore nuts to 412 crore nuts as per the estimation.
The yield for the state is 10,900 nuts per hectare. In West Bengal, the estimated production showed an increase of 11.34 per cent to 44 crore, with a yield of 15,260 nuts per hectare.
