Coconut plays a major role in the economy of India.Apart from the importance of copra and coconut oil which is widely use din the manufacture of soaps ,hair oil.cosmetics and other industrial products, its husk is a source of fibre which supports a sizeable coir industry.The tender nuts supplier coconut waters popular thirst quencher of health and hygienic value which is a multi-crore business all over India.

Coconut is propagated through seedlings raised from selected seed nuts.Generally 9 to 12 month old seedlings ae used for planting.Select seedlings, which have 6-8 leaves and 10-12cm collar girth when they are 9-12 month old.Early splitting of leaves is another criteria in the selection of coconut seedling.

Planting system : spacing

square :7.6 x 7.6m, 8 x 8m , 9x 9m

Rectangular : 7.6m

How profitable is coconut farming?

Total yield : 25 x 80 =2000 nuts per acre.The income from  the farm : (total yield x sale price of each nut)= 2000 x 25 = rs.50000. Profit from the farm :(total income -total investment in the 6th year) =rs.50000 - rs.26400 = rs.23600.

Hope you understood from this example i mentioned above for profit in coconut farming.

How long does it take to grow coconuts?

Coconut takes around one year to ripen fully.Several coconuts grow together in a bunch and they ripen about the same time.if you want to harvest the fruit for the coconut water, the fruit is ready in six to seven month after emergence.

How many coconuts can you get per acre?

Planting coconuts in one acre: planting in traditional concept and with the support of scientists plant coconut trees to an extent of 69 trees in one acre of land with a gap of 25 feet x 25 feet and reap an average of 6000 nuts per acre.You can grow around 200 trees on one acre.

Climatic condition for Plantation:

The coconut palm is found to grow under varying climatic conditions.It is essentially a tropical plant growing mostly between 20oN 20oS latitudes.However,a rainfall of about 2000 mm per year,well distributed throughout, is ideal for proper growth and maximum production.

Soil suitable for coconut tress

Coconut is grown under different soil types such as loamy, laterite, costal sandy, alluvial, clayey and reclaimed soils of the marshy low lands.The ideal soil conditions for better growth and performance of the palm are proper drainage, good water-holing capacity, the presence of water tape within 3m and absence of rock or any hard substratum within 2m of the surface.

Varieties of coconuts:

There are only two distinct varieties of coconut, the tall and the Dwarf.

The tall cultivars that are extensively grown are the west coast tall and east coast tall. The dwarf variety is shorter in stature and its life span is short as compared to the tall.Tall x Dwarf (TxD),Dwarf x Tall (DxT) are the two important hybrids.

Will continue in next blog……..