THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: It is not the low price or pest attack, but non-availability of coconut pluckers that is the major crisis affecting the coconut farmers. With the intervention of Coconut Development Board, a solution is just a mouse-click away. Log on to the website of CDB, you will be surprised to see a long list of coconut climbers or ‘Friends of Coconut Tree’, according to CDB.A district-wise list, which includes name, address and even phone numbers, of over 1,200 climbers are given on the website www.coconutboard.nic.in/Friends-district.htm. As part of the ‘Friends of Coconut Tree’ initiative, the CDB aims to develop a professional group of youths for harvesting and coconut plant protection operations. “We plan to impart training for as many as 5,000 people from various parts of the state. Training is provided on climbing techniques, crown cleaning, pest control measures, etc. The programme was launched on Chingam 1. The training is conducted with the support of Krishi Vigyan Kendras,” said K Muralidharan, director, CDB. The CDB also plans to introduce insurance scheme for the climbers and aims to include minimum 30 percent women for the training.As many as 1,512 unemployed youths were imparted training as part of the programme.Various agencies such as Kudumbashree units, Kera Karshaka Samithis, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Clusters, Coconut Producers’ Societies (CPS), youth clubs under Nehru Yuva Kendras, Primary Agricultural Societies, Coconut Growers Cooperatives, NGOs and Self-Help Groups of NGOs have been asked to identify the climbers.Currently the website has a list of 97 coconut climbers for Kasargod, 166 for Kannur, 162 for Kozhikode, 52 for Malappuram, 205 for Palakkad, 120 for Thirssur, 97 for Ernakulam, 61 for Alappuzha, 61 for Kottayam, 20 for Pathanamthitta, 136 for Kollam and 104 for Thiruvananthapuram.
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