Constraints in Coconut Value Chain – A Framework for Analysis Using Response Priority Index

Abstract

Coconut, a versatile crop with multifaceted uses of its products, hence it is eulogized as “Kalpavriksha” (Tree of Heaven). Coconut is one of the most important commercial crops in many tropical countries and contributes significantly to its economy. India, with the rich biodiversity of coconut, is the largest producer with 33.02 percent share or 22167 million nuts of the world's production. Even though it leads in area, production and productivity, farmers were facing many problems in production and marketing of coconut. Hence a clear understanding on problems from production to marketing with the involvement of various stakeholders (farmers, harvest contractors, commission agents, exporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers) in coconut value chain to help the policy makers for better decision making. Constraints faced by the various stakeholders in coconut production and marketing were elicited and analyzed to find out the significance and priority of the constraints using responses priority index. It was evident that in coconut production, yield decrease due to pest and disease occurrence ranked first with a response priority index value of 2.69. Interventions are required from the state department of agriculture and agricultural university on the management of pests and diseases. In marketing, high fluctuation in coconut prices ranked first with RPI score of 2.39. Daily price fluctuation resulted from an unstable market was the major problem regarding coconut marketing. It is the need of hour to set up an institutional body which would foresee the price movements and availability of coconut and bridges the gap between demand and supply and develop innovative models for upgrading the technology and market information. So, the above suggestions can be generalized to other parts of the country to reap maximum production and systematic marketing of coconut which will surely benefit to coconut growers and also to India’s economy.