₹1,000 Aid for Each Replacement Coconut Sapling
He said seawater backflow, caused by inadequate canal desilting, had increased soil salinity, leading to the sudden death of coconut trees.
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government will provide ₹1,000 for each replacement coconut sapling to support farmers in Konaseema, agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu told the Assembly on Tuesday.
Atchannaidu said the State has 1.18 lakh hectares under coconut cultivation, including 36,000 hectares in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. He said seawater backflow, caused by inadequate canal desilting, had increased soil salinity, leading to the sudden death of coconut trees.
The agriculture minister said the government had sanctioned funds for the desilting of the Sankaraguptham canal and planned to take up other canals under an integrated project to permanently address the problem. With support from the Coconut Development Board, 5,250 hectares were covered under various schemes between 2017-18 and 2024-25.
Farmers are also eligible for subsidies for new coconut plantations, while the government will promote cocoa, banana and vegetable intercrops to help boost their incomes.
