India's Coconut and Coir Economy
Pests, Disease and Ageing Palms
How root wilt disease, rhinoceros beetles and ageing palms reduce coconut yields in Kerala, and replanting programmes to revive productivity.
Coconut yields face threats.
Root wilt
Root wilt disease weakens palms in Kerala, cutting yields.
Pests
Rhinoceros beetles and red palm weevils damage palms.
Ageing palms
Many palms are old, producing fewer nuts.
Replanting
Programmes help farmers replace old or diseased palms with better varieties.
Kerala’s decline
Kerala’s share of India’s coconut output fell while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu grew.
Economics
Low yields reduce farmer income.
The diseased palm
A farmer cuts down a root wilt-affected palm and plants a disease-tolerant seedling.
Thinking coconut palms produce forever
Age and disease cut yields.
Key takeaways
- Root wilt hurts Kerala's palms.
- Pests damage palms.
- Old palms yield less.
- Replanting helps.
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