Clusters
INTEGRATED COCONUT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (ICDS)
“ A HELPING HAND OF KDC BANK TO THE COCONUT FARMERS OF KOZHIKODE DISTRICT”
Coconut is the main livelihood support of farmers of
Kozhikode district. It is cultivated in an area of 1.25 lakh Ha. of land as a
pure crop. Earlier the farmers have practiced intercropping and mixed cropping
along with dairy. But due to socio-economic problems the farmers have changed
their attitude to grow coconut as a pure
crop. Due to the high labour cost prevailing in the area, various pests
and diseases and scattered land holding not much care and management are given
to coconut palms. Since the main source of income of the farmers is coconut
cultivation, any reduction in the production of the coconut or the price of
coconut directly affects the living standard of the farmers.
By adopting better management practices, intercropping and
mixed farming coconut cultivation in the area can be improved and per capita income got enhanced. The
attitude of common farmers can be changed by intervention of the three tier
Panchayath Raj Institutions and other agencies like Coconut Development Board,
Department of Agriculture and Financial institutions. Hence this novel
integrated project, being the first in the state of Kerala, is proposed to be
implemented with the financial
assistance from the Kozhikode District-Co-operative Bank for the
improvement of coconut cultivation on a ‘Cluster’ based approach with a view of
upliftment of farming community.
Objective
- To increase the
production of coconut by adopting better management practices.
- To reduce the cost of
cultivation and to generate additional income through intercropping and mixed
farming.
- To improve the yield of coconut and intercrops by providing
adequate irrigation facilities.
- To promote
production, processing, storage and marketing of agricultural produce directly
to the consumers by which the intermediaries can be wiped off from the
marketing channel.
- To ensure adequate
supply of planting materials and to popularize newly released high yielding
varieties of coconut and other crops by starting a nursery in the area.To help
to fetch higher price for coconut by providing facilities for value addition of
coconut by establishing a copra-processing unit.
- To increase
bargaining power of farmers by establishing a common collection center for
coconut and other farm produces facilitating collective marketing.
- To establish Dairy
and Poultry units in the area for better earnings and to provide quality
organic manures from these units. Organically produced good quality eggs, meat
and milk to the common people of the area at reasonable price can also be
provided.
- By implementing all
the production components, productivity can be boosted to its maximum from a
unit area.
Major components of the Projects
- Production and decease management of coconut.
- Irrigation
- Copra processing
- Common collection centre
- Dairy unit
- Poultry unit
- Multiplication of planting materials
- Intercropping
Additional components can also be incorporated as per local
needs according to technical feasibility, economic viability and availability
of funds.
The estimated project cost is Rs. 14 lakhs per Cluster.
Mode of Implementation
In each Panchayath a compact area of 25 Ha. of land has to
be selected by the Agricultural Officer in consultation with Grama, Block and
Jilla Panchayath. Area should have immense water availability to establish an
irrigation system. The beneficiaries should be ready to work in a self help
group manner and avail loan from the nearby branch of KDC Bank. The entire
farmers of the project area should be brought under the cluster. They should
donate space for copra processing, irrigation system, dairy, poultry, common
collection centre and multiplication of planting materials. The newly developed
infrastructure will be a common asset for 10 years or till all dues are
cleared. After that this will be handed over to the plot owner based on the
common decision of the cluster.
For implementing the project, Agricultural Officer of the
concerned Krishi Bhavan should form an ideal ‘Cluster’ in consultation with
Grama. Block and Jilla Panchayath. After forming the Cluster, a detailed
project should be prepared based on the discussion and suggestions of the
Cluster and submitted to the Bank for sanction of loan. As soon as the loan
sanctioned the subsidy amount will be passed to the Bank. The utilization of
the above subsidy and the progress of the implementation will be closely
watched by the monitoring committee constituted at Grama, Block and Jilla
Panchayath levels.
100% of the project cost (Rs. 14 lakhs) will be disbursed as
loan from the Bank at a nominal rate of interest. The subsidy amount of 50% of
the project cost released by the District Panchayath will be credited to the
beneficiary’s account as per the rules.
The entire 25 Ha. of land will be considered as a single
unit in production, processing etc., and operations will be taken up
collectively by the members of the group. In every 15 days Cluster committee
will be convened by Agrl. Officer and the progress should be evaluated and
communicated to the Bank and other implementing agencies.
Achievement:
So far 42 Clusters have been financed in the following
panchayaths of Kozhikode District under Integrated coconut development scheme.
- Arikkulam
- Edacherry
- Balussery
- Moodadi
- Eramala
- Nanminda
- Chemancherry
- Mavoor
- Narippatta
- Chengottukave
- Peruvayal
- Kunnummal
- Kuttiadi
- Thiruvallur
- Beypore
- Velom
- Villiapally
- Karassery
- Kaykkodi
- Maniyoor
- Nadapuram
- Maruthonkara
- Kunnamangalam
- Ulliyeri
- Kavilumpara
- Ramanattukara
- Thalakulathur
- Unnikulam
- Elathur
- Chathamangalam
- Kottur Purameri Kodanchery Narikkuni