Gandhinagar, May 13 (IANS) Gujarat has reported a 20 per cent rise in tender coconut production over the past two years, with total annual output now estimated at around 26 crore coconuts, according to state horticulture data.​

The increase has been recorded alongside the steady expansion of coconut cultivation across the state’s coastal districts, reflecting a gradual shift towards horticulture-led farming.​

Official figures show that coconut cultivation is currently spread over approximately 28,000 hectares in Gujarat. Key contributing districts include Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Valsad, Navsari, Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka.​

The average productivity of tender coconuts during 2024-25 was about 9.26 thousand per hectare, indicating improved output across several growing regions.​

The growth in production has been supported by government-backed horticulture initiatives, including training programmes and awareness drives that encourage farmers to adopt horticultural and value-added crops.​

Under existing schemes, farmers receive subsidies of up to 75 per cent on coconut plantations.​

Additional assistance is provided for agronomic practices such as mulching and integrated pest management, while irrigation support is extended through drip systems facilitated under the Gujarat Green Revolution Company Limited.​

Government nurseries also supply planting material, including high-yield, dwarf and hybrid coconut varieties.​

Despite the overall increase in output, coconut growers in the coastal belt stretching from Chorwad to Una, locally known as “Lili Nager”, have faced challenges due to outbreaks of rugose whitefly in recent years.​

The pest has affected plantation health and yield in several areas, although officials and farmers report gradual improvement following control measures and adaptive farming practices.​

In Gir district’s Sutrapada region, farmer Dinesh Solanki has recorded a marked increase in productivity after adopting a locally developed pest-control method.​

He treated his plantation using a mixture of jaggery and Gir cow milk diluted in 1,000 litres of water, which he said helped reduce whitefly infestation.​

Following the intervention, his annual coconut yield increased from around 1,000-1,500 to 8,000-10,000, and his income rose to approximately Rs 12-15 lakh per year.​

The expansion of coconut cultivation is part of a broader horticultural strategy to diversify agriculture in the state.​

Authorities have set a target to increase the area under coconut cultivation to 70,000 hectares in the coming years.​

Alongside production growth, emphasis is also being placed on value addition and processing, including products such as virgin coconut oil and coconut powder, to strengthen market access and improve export potential.​

Agriculture department data indicates that continued support for coastal horticulture, combined with improved pest management and irrigation infrastructure, is expected to further enhance productivity and consolidate Gujarat’s position in coconut production over the coming years.

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–IANS

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