Coconut Development Programme:
Water Management and Climate Resilience Technologies for Coconut Plantations
Kinathukadavu Block, Coimbatore District
Conceptual Framework
Coconut, revered as Kalpavriksha (the tree of life), is one of the most significant plantation crops in Coimbatore District, the largest coconut-producing district in Tamil Nadu. However, climate uncertainties, rising input costs, and limited market security have made traditional agriculture unsustainable for many small and marginal farmers.
Recognizing this challenge,
Marico Ltd
., a leading FMCG company with a strong CSR focus, partnered with
COODU in 2018
to launch the Coconut Development Programme under its CSR initiative. The programme aimed to strengthen
water management, soil and moisture conservation, and climate resilience practices
in coconut plantations to enhance productivity and secure farmer livelihoods.
Project Strategy
1.
Area Selection:
Kinathukadavu block, a drought-prone region with high coconut coverage, was identified based on TNAU AgriTech data.
2.
Farmer Mobilization:
Surveys were conducted in multiple hamlets (Mullupadi, Devanampalayam, Perumpathi, Kothavadi, and others) to identify willing farmers.
3.
Capacity Building:
Farmers were trained in
water management, soil health, and pest management
through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in collaboration
with TNAU and KVK experts.
4.
Contribution Model:
Farmers contributed 10–20% of costs, ensuring ownership and sustainability of interventions.
Marico Ltd :
Project funding, monitoring, approval of DPR, and impact assessment.
COODU
: Farmer mobilization, DPR preparation, execution of works, training facilitation, financial management, reporting, and completion documentation.
•
Farm Ponds:
Constructed for 39 farmers, strategically located to capture runoff water and recharge soils.
•
Soil & Moisture Conservation Measures:
Implemented trench-cum-bunds and ring bunds in the fields of 300 farmers.
•
Training & Demonstrations:
Conducted FFS sessions with scientists, agriculture officers, and farmer leaders covering micro-irrigation, pest management, organic
practices, and marketing strategies.
Phase II (2019)
• Responding to strong farmer demand, an additional
12 farm ponds and intervention measures for 158 farmers
were sanctioned.
• Expansion ensured wider reach and greater water conservation impact across Kinathukadavu villages (Kappalankarai,
Sirukalandai, Andipalayam, Perianegamam, and others).
• Total CSR sanction by
Marico
: ₹46.8 lakh.
• Farmer contribution: 10–20% of works (exceeding expectations).
• Example: Farm pond works worth ₹24.83 lakh were executed with ₹21 lakh from CSR funds and ₹3.83 lakh from farmer contributions.
•
Farm Ponds:
Designed with proper inlets and outlets, lined with stone pitching to filter sediments.
•
Training Sessions:
•
Monitoring & Accountability:
All works were supervised by Marico-appointed monitors, COODU engineers, and certified by farmers themselves.
•
Enhanced Productivity:
Increased flowering and nut setting in coconut palms due to assured water availability.
•
Water Security:
Farm ponds and bunding improved groundwater recharge and soil moisture retention.
•
Adoption of Good Practices:
Farmers actively collected mulching materials, adopted intercropping, and followed water-efficient techniques.
•
Income Generation:
Higher yields and diversification into intercrops like banana, sugarcane, and vegetables improved farm income.
•
Improved Livelihoods:
With increased income, farmers expressed confidence in investing in children’s education, farm mechanization, and value addition activities
•
Replication Effect:
Neighboring farmers outside the project villages began replicating pond creation and soil treatment measures at their own cost.
• Increased production and productivity of coconut plantations.
• Improved soil fertility and groundwater recharge.
• Sustained income growth for farmers and better living standards.
• Strengthened food and nutritional security through diversified cropping.
• Models for replication across other drought-prone coconut belts in Tamil Nadu.
The Coconut Development Programme in Kinathukadavu, supported by Marico Ltd . and implemented by COODU , has demonstrated how corporate–community partnerships can transform plantation agriculture. By combining water management, soil conservation, and farmer capacity building , the initiative has set a replicable model of climate resilience in coconut farming . Farmers now look forward to a future where their coconut palms – the “tree of abundance” – will once again sustain livelihoods and drive rural prosperity.