Coconut cultivation means yield for 80 years. Know the varieties and management method

Coconut tree is also called Kalpavriksh. Once planted, its plant bears fruit for more than 80 years. The specialty of this tree is that every part of it is useful. Coconut cultivation is no less than a boon for farmers. When its fruit is raw, it is used as coconut water. When it ripens, it is used in everything from worship to sweets and many dishes.

Not only this, oil is extracted from coconut after it dries, which is used for applying to hair as well as cooking. Coconut is also used in many beauty products. Apart from this, many types of products are also made by processing coconut like biscuits, chips etc. The coco peat that people use for pots in cities is also made from coconut trees. Therefore, coconut farming proves to be more profitable for farmers than other crops. Not only this, since coconut trees are very tall, they can be planted on the sides of the field and other crops can also be grown below.

Major Coconut Producing Countries 

Coconut is produced on a very large scale in India. It is cultivated in almost all the states, but India ranks third in coconut production in the world. The highest production of coconut in the whole world is in Indonesia. Philippines comes second. Kerala is the largest coconut producing state in India. Apart from this, coconut is also being cultivated on a large scale in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam and Bihar.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, coconut plays an important role in India’s agriculture and economy. According to the data, 13411.93 metric tonnes of coconut was produced in the country during 2021-22. Since coconut cultivation is beneficial for years, the government is also encouraging farmers to cultivate coconut.

Coconut Varieties 

West Coast Tall Coconut 

Many varieties of coconut are grown in India. This variety of coconut is cultivated the most because it gives more production. It starts bearing fruits after about 6-7 years of planting. The oil content in it is up to 65-70 percent. It is grown on a large scale especially in the coastal areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Tripura and Lakshadweep.

East Coast Tall Coconut 

The specialty of this variety of coconut is that it can also withstand strong winds. It can be grown in well-drained, alluvial or red loamy soil. It starts bearing fruits after about 6 to 8 years of planting also It is mainly grown in the coastal areas of West Bengal, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Chowghat Green Dwarf Coconut 

This is a dwarf variety of coconut, but it is priceless. It is mainly grown in Kerala. Its water is very nutritious and tasty. Its biggest feature is that it starts bearing fruits early. Fruits start appearing only after 3-4 years of planting the plant. The oil content in its fruit is about 66-68 percent.

Kera Hybrid Coconut 

This special variety of coconut is popular for its excellent yield and quality. This Shankar variety is a mixture of Lakshadweep Ordinary Tall and Chowghat Orange Dwarf. The oil content in it is about 68-72 percent. It is grown on a large scale in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

Chandra Lakshya Coconut 

This variety of coconut is excellent in taste and is also large in size. It is cultivated mostly in the coastal areas of Kerala and Karnataka. The oil content in it is 69-72 percent.

Soil & Temperature For Coconut Cultivation

Sandy, loamy soil with good drainage is considered good for coconut cultivation. It should not be cultivated on stony land, because the roots of the coconut tree are very deep. Therefore, hard soil is not suitable for its cultivation. The pH value of the soil should be between 5.5 to 8.8. Coconut cultivation is good in hot temperatures, because the fruits ripen well in this season. Coconut trees grow well in normal temperatures. They can tolerate temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 40 degrees.

Land Preparation For Coconut Cultivation

It is important to prepare the field well before planting the saplings. Plow the field and make it flat. By doing this, there will be no problem of waterlogging. After ploughing, make pits in the prepared field for planting saplings and prepare these pits in rows. Keep a distance of 20 to 25 feet between each row and 15 to 20 feet between the pits. The pits should be one meter deep and wide. While preparing the pits, mix 20 to 25 kg of cow dung manure with 500 grams of NPK in the ratio of 1:2:2 and fill it well with the soil. 

The right time and method of planting coconut plants 

Coconut plants can be planted between June and September. Planting is not done in the rainy season. Plants are planted in pits prepared in the field. If there is an infestation of white ants in the field, treat the plants with 5 grams of Sevidol 8G before planting them. Then plant the plants by digging in the prepared pits with a hoe. Where irrigation facilities are available, its plants can be planted even in the winter season.

Irrigation & Plant Care 

After planting, the plants need more care for the first 3-4 years. During this time, the plants have to be protected from extreme cold and heat. Coconut plants also need adequate air for proper growth. As far as irrigation is concerned, if the plants are planted in the rainy season, then there is no need for much irrigation. But if planting is not done in the rainy season, then the plants need irrigation. In summer season, water should be given at an interval of 3-4 days, whereas in winter season, irrigate the plants once a week. It is good to use drip method for irrigation. This provides sufficient water to the plants and they grow well. Coconut trees bear plenty of fruits after proper care for 3-4 years.

Weed Management In Coconut Cultivation 

Weed control in coconut orchard should be done in a natural way. For this, weed the plants from time to time. Weeding should be done 3-4 times in a year. Coconut plants take 5 to 8 years to be ready. In such a situation, farmers can earn extra income by cultivating pulses or spice crops in the vacant land.

Fruit Picking and Yield 

Coconut trees are very tall and its fruits grow at a very high height. Therefore, it is not easy to pluck it. Only a trained person climbs the tree and plucks it. It takes 15 months for the coconut fruit to ripen, but it can be plucked earlier as per the need. If you want coconut water, then you should pluck the fruit when it appears green.

If you want to pluck the ripe fruits, then pluck it when the fruit turns yellow. Oil and fibre are obtained from fully ripe coconut fruit. A one-time harvest from one hectare coconut farm yields about 50 quintals. Its trees bear fruit for more than 80 years. Coconut can be sold in both raw and ripe forms, due to which farmers get good income from it. There is always a demand for coconut. It is in demand throughout the year for everything from coconut water to puja.