CDB & MSSRF join hands for sustained coconut development

Dr. Raju Narayana Swamy IAS, Chairman, Coconut Development Board, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India Kochi had a meeting with the renowned Agricultural Scientist and Father of Indian Green Revolution, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan at Chennai on 18-09-2018.  They had a detailed discussion on the potential areas to be addressed for the expansion of coconut in nontraditional areas of the country.  Further, they had a detailed interaction on the sustained transformation of value addition in coconut in a systematic manner in India.  Dr. M.S. Swaminathan endorsed the view of the Dr. Swamy that ‘Value addition is the key to income generation in Agriculture’. 

As an initiative to this remarkable task, at the outset, to increase the productivity of coconut in Tamil Nadu, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) have submitted a project proposal viz.,  “Providing Knowledge based information and  enhancement of coconut production in Tamil Nadu state  through   various digital support based  tools  for  sustainable  development“.  The aim of the project is that  Information & Communication Technology (ICT) shall be involved to deliver selection of soil and varieties of coconut, crop management, pest and disease management, soil health advisories, nutrient management, post harvesting techniques and market information and locations to the coconut farmers of Tamil Nadu.  This pilot project is proposed to be implemented covering Coimbatore, Dindigul, Theni  and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu.  Based on the success of this project, this module could be expanded to the coconut growing regions of the Country.  The budget outlay for this project would be around Rs. 70.00 lakhs, which could be shared between CDB and MSSRF.
 Chairman, CDB would also be delivering a lecture on CDB and its activities, in the proposed Millennia lectures to be organized by MSSRF, Chennai.  Shri Rajeev Bhushan Prasad, Director, CDB, RO, Chennai, Dr. N. Parasuraman, Coordinator, Youth & Development, MSSRF and Shri A. Jeyapandi, Deputy Director (Mktg.), CDB, RO, Chennai were present during the meeting.