Coconut Development Board Launched “Hello Naariyal FoCT call center”

KOCHI:
Coconut Development Board has officially launched “Hello Naariyal,” FoCT call center which caters to the needs of coconut farmers in coconut harvesting and other plant management practices.

Dr. C. F. Joseph, Advisor, Horticulture launched Hello Naariyal FoCT call in the presence of Priya Ranjan, IFoS, Joint Secretary (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, and Chief Executive Officer of CDB; Dr. S.K. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, and Dr. K.B. Hebbar, Director, CPCRI and Vice Chairman of CDB on the occasion of Regional Workshop on Horticulture held during first week of November 2023 in Kochi.

The Hello Naariyal call center, in Kerala functions from the Head Quarters of the Board in Kochi. This initiative will not only benefit coconut growers of Kerala but will also extend its service to the traditional coconut-growing states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka through the respective Unit Offices of the Board.

Total 1924 FoCTs have registered for this call centre. Services of FoCT’s will be available at Block Grama Panchayat level in respective districts for carrying out activities related to coconut cultivation including coconut tree climbing, plant protection, harvesting, seed nut procurement, nursery management etc. Coconut farmers can avail the services of FoCTs through this call center.

The objective of the call center is to improvise the activities of coconut sector by linking together the Friends of Coconut Tree (FoCT palm climbers) with coconut farmers, farmer producer organizations, coconut entrepreneurs and officials of various Agriculture Departments/Institutions. For further details please contact 0484–2377266 (Extn: 137). Interested skilled climbers can also register in the call center.