Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 12: “There is good demand for coconut products overseas which should be made good use of. The concerned department should utilise technology and make coconut cultivation profitable,” said Union Minister of State for agriculture and farmer’s welfare Shobha Karandlaje.

She was speaking after inaugurating founder’s day of coconut development board and farmer’s conference at Sheshakrishna Convention hall, Tallur.

“There are ample opportunities to export coconuts and coconut products. There will be no issues abroad by using fewer pesticides for coconut cultivation. The coconut development board should conduct programmes in this connection,” she said.

MLA B M Sukumar Shetty presided over the programme. Satyanarayana Udupa of Udupi Kalparasa coconut and All spices producers company limited said that a minimum support price should be announced for coconuts. “The growers are incurring loss due to the menace of monkeys and pigs. Programmes should be held to support the coconut growers,” he said.

Kasargod CPCRI official Dr Vinayaka Hegde, Brahmavar KVK scientist and head of the department Dr Dhanajay, Kasaragod CPCRI department heads Dr Hebbar K B, Dr Ravi Bhat, H M Nayak, Navinchandra Jain, Seetharama Ganiga, Narayana Shetty and others were present.

Coconut development board Kochi development officer Dr B Hanumanthe Gowda welcomed and gave an introduction. Udupi horticulture department deputy director Bhuvaneshwari rendered the vote of thanks. Retired officer of the department of horticulture, Sanjiva Naik compered the programme.

A technical conference was held after the hall programme.