Key challenges faced in coconut farming across Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The study intends to analyze the major challenges in coconut farming in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts of Tamil Nadu. The study was carried out through personal interview of 180 respondents (coconut farmers) through a well-structured questionnaire in 6 coconut cultivating blocks of both the districts during the year 2022-23. For the present study, challenges were grouped under crop protection, production management, mechanization and marketing. Under each category various challenges were observed among the respondents. The results show that the major challenges are high labour dearth, which ranks first and high wages, followed by fluctuating nut selling price, higher inputs cost, root wilt disease, Rugose spiralling white flies infestation, rodents damage, water scarcity (Tirupur district) and nutrition management. Positive correlation has been found between farm size and labour dearth. Out of various issues with labour dearth and higher wages advocates the need for suitable advanced mechanization, especially for coconut harvesting. Also, the study discusses the mechanization aspects with respect to observed challenges in coconut cultivation.