The picturesque coconut groves of Uddanam had once been a testament of the farmers’ prosperity in the area.
The picturesque coconut groves of Uddanam had once been a testament of the farmers’ prosperity in the area.(Image: DC)
Visakhapatnam: The picturesque coconut groves of Uddanam had once been a testament of the farmers’ prosperity in the area. The very same groves are now a source of despair for them. The coconut trees have aged and their yields have fallen. Pests and adverse weather are compounding problems. Farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihoods.
Sompeta mandal agricultural officer B. Narasimha Murthy told Deccan Chronicle that there are 60 to 70 coconut trees per acre in the Uddanam groves. About 30 per cent of these are now 70–80 years’ old, producing mere 5–10 coconuts every two months. Another 30 per cent of the trees are about 40–50 years’ old, yielding 15–20 coconuts in two months.
Farmers are making efforts to plant at least 10 new coconut trees per acre each year. But only one or two are surviving, distressing farmers.
The primary coconut grown in the area is tall East Coast variety. The rainfall in the Uddanam region is low and there are insufficient irrigation facilities. Thus, farmers cannot cultivate high water yielding varieties like Ganga Bhavani, which is in high demand.
Combined with the falling yields of aged trees, farmers are left with just 30–40 per cent coconut trees that give a good yield.
Coconut plantations in Uddanam region span 50,000 acres in the Kaviti, Ichchapuram, Sompeta, Kanchili, Mandasa, Palasa, Vajrapukotturu and Santhaboma mandals.
Coconut farmer A. Polaiah says for farmers to sustain themselves, an acre of coconut plantation should ideally generate an income of at least ₹1 lakh per year. However, they are not even earning ₹50,000 annually. Apart from the age, other factors causing decreasing yields are pests, insufficient rains and natural disasters like cyclones.
Mandal agricultural officer Narasimha Murty said among the pests the black-headed caterpillar had first been reported in 1980. Then followed by Ganoderma fungus, rhinoceros beetles, red palm weevils, and rugose spiralling whiteflies, all of them posing significant threats.
Cyclones have uprooted thousands of trees. Drought conditions over the past two years have further affected yields. Previously, farmers harvested up to 1,000 nuts per acre in two months. Now, they are struggling to collect even a hundred.
Some farmers say they are not even recovering labour costs from the harvesting of coconuts. As a result, a section of the farmers is migrating for employment. Some are sell their plantations to realtors.
Ironically, Uddanam farmers are finding themselves cornered despite the rise in coconut prices.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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