A one-day training in advanced technologies of coconut cultivation was imparted to 50 farmers from the Agricultural Stations of the Government of Kerala at the Centre of Excellence for Coconut, Dhali, Tiruppur, through the Inter-State Training Programme under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). Mr. G. Ragothuman, Manager, of the Centre of Excellence for Coconut, explained its mission, activities, achievements and the developmental schemes of the Coconut Development Board, such as Area Expansion Programme, Nucleus Seed Garden and Coconut Nursery, Integrated Farming for Coconut Holding etc,. Also, he spoke about the coconut crop varieties, soil and climatic conditions, high-yielding varieties, agronomic techniques in coconut cultivation, selection of mother palms, selection of seed coconuts, nursery management, maintenance of young coconut plantation, intercropping, cropping system, mixed farming, integrated farming and precision farming, green manuring in coconut garden, fodder crop cultivation in coconut and integrated pest, disease, fertilizer, water and nutrient deficiency management.
Mr. Mariyappan, Field Officer, IFFCO, Coimbatore demonstrated the application of liquid nano DAP and Sagarika seaweed fertilizer in coconut through root feeding. Value-added products, coconut biofertilizers, parasites, predators, botanical insecticides, light traps and pheromone traps were explained, displayed and demonstrated at the programme. Agriculture Officers Rohit, Rajesh, Bipin, Emily and Jayan were present.