In these places which are Chitradurga, Hassan, and Tumakuru districts in Karnataka state have coconut gardens that are many. These areas don’t just have a name for their copra but also they are major sources of coconuts and tender coconuts to cities such as Benglauru. The other second side of Karnataka, the coastal area provides best oil-making coconuts.
Copra quality is checked and sorted before it is packed in gunny bags at a copra procurement center in Maysandra, in Tumkur district of Karnataka.
A farmer peeling Copra from Shell at Tiptur in Tumkaru District, Karnatak
The drought situation experienced last year has been terrible. However, it is disheartening to see most of these coconut groves having browning coconuts fronds all over. Borewells and lakes are drying up even as farmers now want nothing but to save their coconut plantations.
Coconut shell collected from the farmers which is used for handicraft and domestic purposes in Karnataka.
Moreover many farmers were affected by the falling price of Copra because of delay in purchase by NAFED. Thus NHAFED has since then decided to buy it at ₹12,000/quintal while the State Government only offers ₹1,500/quintal for 70,000 tonnes.Normally copra procurement begins by December and January but this year it started April will continue for few months more. In APMC’s several rice mills converted into copra procurement centers due to the allegations that traders or middlemen were manipulating prices
Farmers getting Copra to Procurement Centre at Maysandra in Tumkur District, Karnatak
At Tiptur farm a farmer was seen unloading his vehicle with some help on how to peel Copra from shells. A farmer unloading copra for peeling it from the shell at Tiptur in Tumakuru district, Karnataka.
The leaves had turned brown and died off due to the drought situation at holalkere Taluk in Chitradurga District of Karnataka.
Farmers are missing out on one rain cycle and yet have to save their plantations in this area since though it is now monsoon time and there will be good spells forecasted for Karnataka.
A farmer coconuts shells to a vehicle at Tiptur, in Tumakuru district of Karnataka.
A farmer peeling copra from the shell at Tiptur, in Tumakuru district of Karnataka.
