Around 50,000 hectares area available for Coconut cultivation in Bihar: Union Minister

Patna: Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that, the Central Government is bound to promote the coconut cultivation and related activities in Bihar. Singh told that since 2014 a total amount of Rs 409.06 lakhs has been sanctioned for implementing the schemes on coconut cultivation in Bihar. Union Agriculture Minister was speaking on the occasion of foundation stone laying ceremony of Farmers Training Centre and Regional Office building in Patna on the 37th Foundation day of Coconut Development Board (CDB). Coconut Development Board was established on 12 January 1981.

Singh said that Kosi region in North Bihar which comprises places on either sides of the Kosi river is suitable for coconut cultivation. It is estimated that nearly 50,000 hectares of potential area in Bihar is available for coconut cultivation, mainly in North Bihar under irrigated condition.

Union Agriculture Minister noted that Regional Office of the Coconut Development Board was shifted to Guwahati, Assam from Patna, Bihar on the basis of recommendations of a committee constituted under the chairmanship of ICAR in 2009. A central team was constituted by the Central Government focussing on the productivity of coconut in Bihar. This team has recommended to open a new and fourth Regional Office of the Board at Patna in place of State Centre Patna which was agreed upon by the Coconut Development Board in its 119th Board meeting held on January 30,  2015.

Radha Mohan Singh also said that India is the global leader in production and productivity of coconut. Coconut is cultivated in 16 states and three union territories in an extent of 2.14 million ha. The crop sustains more than one crore farmer families of the country through cultivation, processing, marketing and trade related activities. In Bihar, Coconut is grown in 14,900 hectares producing 141.38 million nuts.

Union Agriculture Minister said that CDB aims to equip the coconut farmers in production, processing, marketing and export of coconut and its value added products thus making India the world leader in production, productivity, processing for value addition and export of coconut. Bihar belongs to nontraditional coconut cultivated area and special focus is being given for development of coconut sector in the state.