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INTEGRATED COCONUT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (ICDS)
“
A HELPING HAND OF KDC BANK TO THE COCONUT FARMERS OF
KOZHIKODE DISTRICT”
Coconut is the main livelihood support of farmers of Kozhikode district. It
is cultivated in an area of 1.25 lakh Ha. of land as a pure crop. Earlier the
farmers have practiced intercropping and mixed cropping along with dairy. But
due to socio-economic problems the farmers have changed their attitude to
grow coconut as a pure crop. Due to the high labour cost prevailing in
the area, various pests and diseases and scattered land holding not much care
and management are given to coconut palms. Since the main source of income of
the farmers is coconut cultivation, any reduction in the production of the
coconut or the price of coconut directly affects the living standard of the
farmers.
By
adopting better management practices, intercropping and mixed farming coconut
cultivation in the area can be improved and per capita income got
enhanced. The attitude of common farmers can be changed by intervention of
the three tier Panchayath Raj Institutions and other agencies like Coconut
Development Board, Department of Agriculture and Financial institutions.
Hence this novel integrated project, being the first in the state of Kerala,
is proposed to be implemented with the financial assistance from the
Kozhikode District-Co-operative Bank for the improvement of coconut
cultivation on a ‘Cluster’ based approach with a view of upliftment of
farming community.
Objective
 To increase the production of coconut
by adopting better management practices.
To reduce the cost of cultivation and
to generate additional income through intercropping and mixed farming.
To
improve the yield of coconut and intercrops by providing adequate irrigation
facilities.
To promote production, processing, storage
and marketing of agricultural produce directly to the consumers by which the
intermediaries can be wiped off from the marketing channel.
To ensure adequate supply of planting
materials and to popularize newly released high yielding varieties of coconut
and other crops by starting a nursery in the area.To help to fetch higher
price for coconut by providing facilities for value addition of coconut by
establishing a copra-processing unit.
To increase bargaining power of
farmers by establishing a common collection center for coconut and other farm
produces facilitating collective marketing.
To establish Dairy and Poultry units
in the area for better earnings and to provide quality organic manures from
these units. Organically produced good quality eggs, meat and milk to the
common people of the area at reasonable price can also be provided.
By implementing all the production
components, productivity can be boosted to its maximum from a unit area.
Major
components of the Projects
- Production and decease
management of coconut.
- Irrigation
- Copra processing
- Common collection centre
- Dairy unit
- Poultry unit
- Multiplication of planting
materials
- Intercropping
Additional
components can also be incorporated as per local needs according to technical
feasibility, economic viability and availability of funds.
The
estimated project cost is Rs. 14 lakhs per Cluster.
Mode
of Implementation
In each Panchayath a compact area of 25 Ha. of land has to be selected by the
Agricultural Officer in consultation with Grama, Block and Jilla Panchayath.
Area should have immense water availability to establish an irrigation
system. The beneficiaries should be ready to work in a self help group manner
and avail loan from the nearby branch of KDC Bank. The entire farmers of the
project area should be brought under the cluster. They should donate space
for copra processing, irrigation system, dairy, poultry, common collection
centre and multiplication of planting materials. The newly developed
infrastructure will be a common asset for 10 years or till all dues are
cleared. After that this will be handed over to the plot owner based on the
common decision of the cluster.
For
implementing the project, Agricultural Officer of the concerned Krishi Bhavan
should form an ideal ‘Cluster’ in consultation with Grama. Block and Jilla
Panchayath. After forming the Cluster, a detailed project should be prepared
based on the discussion and suggestions of the Cluster and submitted to the
Bank for sanction of loan. As soon as the loan sanctioned the subsidy amount
will be passed to the Bank. The utilization of the above subsidy and the
progress of the implementation will be closely watched by the monitoring
committee constituted at Grama, Block and Jilla Panchayath levels.
100%
of the project cost (Rs. 14 lakhs) will be disbursed as loan from the Bank at
a nominal rate of interest. The subsidy amount of 50% of the project cost
released by the District Panchayath will be credited to the beneficiary’s
account as per the rules.
The
entire 25 Ha. of land will be considered as a single unit in production,
processing etc., and operations will be taken up collectively by the members
of the group. In every 15 days Cluster committee will be convened by Agrl.
Officer and the progress should be evaluated and communicated to the Bank and
other implementing agencies.
Achievement:
So far 42 Clusters have been financed in the following panchayaths of
Kozhikode District under Integrated coconut development scheme.
Arikkulam
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Edacherry
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Balussery
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Moodadi
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Eramala
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Nanminda
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Chemancherry
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Mavoor
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Narippatta
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Chengottukave
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Peruvayal
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Kunnummal
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Kuttiadi
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Thiruvallur
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Beypore
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Velom
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Villiapally
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Karassery
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Kaykkodi
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Maniyoor
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Nadapuram
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Maruthonkara
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Kunnamangalam
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Ulliyeri
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Kavilumpara
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Ramanattukara
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Thalakulathur
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Unnikulam
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Elathur
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Chathamangalam
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Kottur
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Purameri
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Maniyur
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Kodanchery
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Narikkuni
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