Lok Sabha Question No. 1342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Training and Skill Development Programmes to Coconut Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1342

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  JULY 2024

## TRAINING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO COCONUT FARMERS

1342.   SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ िष एवं ᳰकसान क᭨याण रा᭔य मंᮢी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  coconut  handicrafts  training  and  skill development programmes in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details of the training conducted during the last three years, district-wise;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  awareness  programmes  for  coconut farmers and consumers in the State of Andhra Pradesh;
- (e) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f)  whether the Government has conducted coconut exhibitions/fairs in the State of Andhra Pradesh; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं ᳰकसान क᭨याण रा᭔य मंᮢी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): Yes.  The Coconut Development Board under the administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare conducted coconut handicrafts training  in  Andhra  Pradesh  to  promote  manufacturing  of  attractive  craft  items  with various parts of coconut plant. These training programs are organized for unemployed youth to provide employment opportunity and livelihood support. The Board is also organizing skill development training programmes like Friends of Coconut Tree (FoCT) to  promote  skilled  labourers  for  coconut  harvesting  and  other  plant  protection operations. The details of the training and skill development programmes conducted in the State of Andhra Pradesh during the last three years are as below :

| Year    |   Number of Handicraft /Friends of coconut tree (FoCT) training programmes | Districts of Andhra Pradesh                                          |   Number beneficiaries |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|
| 2022-23 |                                                                          1 | Kalikiri, Chittoor                                                   |                     20 |
| 2023-24 |                                                                          4 | Parvathipuram Manyam, Konaseema, Srikakulam, Alluri Seetharama Raju, |                     75 |

(d) & (e) : Coconut  Development  Board  regularly  organizes  awareness  training programmes for the farmers and entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh as part of extension activities on good agriculture practices, scientific coconut cultivation, plant protection activities, processing, value addition and marketing.  The details of the awareness training programmes conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh during the last three years are as below :

| Year    |   Number of awareness training programmes |   Number of beneficiaries |
|---------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2021-22 |                                         4 |                       120 |
| 2022-23 |                                         6 |                       330 |
| 2023-24 |                                        25 |                      1128 |

(f) & (g) : The Board is participating in exhibitions/ seminars and other interaction programs  with  the  consumers  and  other  stakeholders  to  create  awareness  about coconut products and promote the nutritional and health attributes of coconut. The details  of  the  Exhibitions  participated  by the  Board in  the state  of Andhra  Pradesh during the last three years are as below :

| Year    | No. of Exhibitions                 |
|---------|------------------------------------|
| 2021-22 | 1- Agritech 2021 in Guntur         |
| 2022-23 | 1- Agritech 2022 in Guntur         |
| 2023-24 | 1- Agritech 2023 in Guntur         |
| 2023-24 | 1- Food Technology Expo in Bapatta |