Analysis of organic farming practices in coconut in South India

Abstract

The study on 'analysis of organic farming practices' was conducted among 150 coconut farmers selected randomly from five districts viz., Coimbatore and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Calicut and Trivandrum in Kerala and Tumkur in Karnataka during August 2011 to January 2012. Majority of farmers (64%) belonged to middle age category, 97 per cent of the farmers were literates and majority of them were having rich experience in coconut cultivation. Sixty seven per cent of farmers had less than 2 ha. area under coconut and 66 per cent farmers had livestock. Majority of them had medium level of social participation, extension orientation and mass media exposure. Less than one fifth of the farmers (17.3%) had undergone training on organic farming. Only 12 per cent of the farmers were maintaining farm records, only 23 per cent farmers carried out soil testing and very few of them (3.3%) had organic certification. The main reason for adopting organic farming practices was 'to maintain the soil fertility'. Growing intercrops, green manure crops and mulching were the main agronomic practices adopted. Main organic inputs produced or prepared at the farm were crop residues, farm yard manure, cow dung slurry and vermicompost. Farm yard manure, neem cake, neem based insecticides, biofertilizers etc. were the major inputs which were purchased from outside. Majority of coconut farmers (68%) had medium level of knowledge on organic farming practices. The mean yield and productivity of coconut was found to be 93 nuts palm^–1 year^–1 and 13,140 nuts/ha respectively. Gross income from coconut was calculated as Rs. 717 palm^–1 year^–1 and Rs. 64,825 ha^–1. Non-availability of labour, difficulty in controlling pests and diseases by organic methods and non-availability of quality organic inputs were the major constraints.