BANGALORE:
The Chairman, Coconut Development Board Dr. Raju Narayana Swamy visited the Coconut Development Board Regional Office Bangalore on 30.8.2018 and reviewed the progress of various schemes undertaken at the Regional Office.
The Chairman suggested that a village can be adopted as a focal point for the implementation of Coconut Development Board schemes with the involvement of people’s representatives, academic institutions and civil society groups. The aim will be to ensure that coconut farmers at the village level adopt Scientific Management Practices.
There will be a concerted attempt to control the outbreak of pests and diseases through the setting up of a Plant Health Clinic at the village level involving experts in the field and villagers. Scientific water harvesting techniques incorporating traditional agronomy methods will be implemented in the field through Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory Rural Appraisal approaches.
After detailed discussions it was decided that the ideal village to be selected for this will be in Tiptur Taluk of Tumkur district. The Regional Director, Hemachandra was directed to prepare a detailed project proposal in this regard and submit within a week. One of the components of the programme will be a periodic interaction with the farmers through the call centres as well as through social media.
The Chairman Dr. Raju Narayana Swamy emphasized that this will be a pilot project and will involve the support of all stake holders to empower the farmers. The Chairman promised that he will personally contact and visit, after the village is selected and will hold an interactive session with all stake holders including the farmers. He assured that proper monitoring and evaluation will be done and emphasized the need for a close interaction with villagers through grama sabha for successful conduct of the programme.
Another suggestion put forth by the Chairman is establishment of sales outlets. A few of them will be run by Coconut Development Board through its franchisees. The remaining will be sales outlets run through Government agencies working in the field. The Chairman also directed the Regional Director to explore the possibilities of setting up of sales outlets in Airpor, major Railway Stations and Metro Stations. These outlets will sell products produced by the CPCs as well as Women Self Help Groups. The aim is to avoid middle men and to ensure that the income accrued reaches the hands of farmers.
The Chairman also directed the Regional Director to explore the possibility of setting up toll free call centres in selected wards in Bangalore Municipal Corporation for door step delivery of designated coconut products. Delivery of quality products will be assured within 24 hours.
The Chairman also directed the extension of Area Expansion Programme to one of the nontraditional districts in Karanataka such as Gulberga which through has a good potential is far behind in coconut cultivation.
