David Lobo
davidl...@deejayfarm.com
Do let me know why this debate regarding the coconut tree
rages on. I am an interested person, being involved with
coconut farming and breeding. Perhaps I have missed something
and need to be enlightened. I believe that the legislation to
remove the coconut palm from the list of trees is needed.
These are my reasons.
The coconut palm, part of the very spirit of Goa, was
classified as a tree some years ago, by the Forest
Department, I believe. The millions of palms all over Goa,
were and are grown for economic benefit, planted around the
home, in fields, on bunds and so on, and a small percentage
for aesthetic reasons.
With the classification of the coconut palm as a Forest Tree,
permission had to be taken to cut it down. This made life
much harder for the house holder, the farmer and I believe
the Agricultural Department, but was beneficial for the
Forest Department, if fees are charged for giving permission
to cut down the coconut palms.
If the palm growing in one's garden was a danger to life and
property, or was too tall to climb and harvest, or became
senile and low in productivity, and needed a replacement, it
could NOT be cut without permission, which does not always
come promptly.
If the farmer wants to replant his field and replace senile
palms, he cannot do so, without permission, which does not
always come promptly.
If the government has many schemes to encourage the
replacement of senile and dangerous palms with new and high
producing ones, the scheme cannot work efficiently for
permission has to be taken in every case.
In terms of productivity with regard to the coconut palm, Goa
is near the bottom of the list of States.
Looking at the other side of the coin: will this
freedom to "cut down palms" be abused and will Goa
become a state with sunshine and sand but no palms?
I am absolutely sure it will not happen.
Will the whole sale slaughter of palms take place now that
everyone has freedom to cut palms? Of course not. No one, but
no one, cuts down the palm for no reason.
Without doubt a palm that is a danger to life and home, must
be cut down, and the previous red tape to get permission was
a hindrance.
If one has to build a home, or a factory or any
structure, and the palm is in the way, yes, they
will get cut down now easier than before. They
certainly did get cut down before but with
permission. What is the difference with or without
permission -- the same number will be cut down, in
one case easily and in the other, with fees being
paid. If a building or a factory comes up, I see no
harm if the coconut trees standing on the land and
in the way, are cut down. Jobs are created, new
products will reach the public, living standards
are improved and wealth is created. Why not have
all these benefits in place of some senile palms?
I cannot see any other palm being cut down. This number
however pales in comparison with the number of senile palms
[more than 50%] that should be cut down, and replanted with
young palms. All efforts by the Agriculture Department of the
Government of Goa, to rejuvenate and replant, hits a serious
road block with the earlier permission needed. On the one
hand we blame Government for being slow and for poor
governance, and on the other hand some are demanding
legislation that results in exactly that!
All the people I asked if they will now cut down
their palms for they do not need permission, looked
at me as if I was a mad man! "Why on earth should I
cut it down?" was the most common retort. The
coconut palm is not a rose wood or a sandal wood
tree, that is more useful cut and dead than when
standing and alive. On the contrary it is almost
valueless when dead.
Who then wants the legislation to come back, that the coconut
palm is a forest tree? I think it is only those who see
opportunity for themselves and those who have not thought
this through properly.
Please enlighten me if I have missed something.
--
David Lobo has been called 'The Coconut Palm Man'. After
deciding the priesthood was not for him, he committed himself
to a range of businesses, and currently adds value to
farmers' lives through his Bangalore-headquartered hybrid
coconut palms and Deejay Farms. See deejayfarm.com
and
http://sustainabilitynext.in/special-interview/meet-david-lobo-the-coconut-palm-man/