Coconut pluckers on hire from August 1 (Herald)

Coconut pluckers on hire from August 1 July 23, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Goa State Horticulture Corporation Limited (GSHCL) is all set to launch its unique scheme of providing “padelis” (coconut pluckers) on hire to coconut plantation owners from August 1 onwards, a first of its kind scheme in the Country. The state is facing serious shortage of pluckers since the present youth belonging to families which traditionally engaged in this occupation do not want to engage in these jobs. The scarcity is also affecting coconut cultivation and production in the State. GSHCL has selected around 42 professional pluckers from Canacona and Pernem talukas, who would be stationed at the taluka level Corporation offices from where they would be taken to respective sites by the coconut growers. Along with these 42, the Corporation has trained 15 youth to pluck coconuts, who would be also deployed with them. “In Goa, there is some sort of feeling that the coconuts plucking occupation is a minimal one and there is no attraction towards it. Hence the number of pluckers has dwindled,”, GSHCL Managing director Orlando Rodrigues told Herald, adding that this had domino effect with farmers refusing to plant more coconut trees. Therefore, the corporation has decided to give them an assured income and incentives, he said. The pluckers are appointed on contract basis, and would be paid a monthly salary along with additional charges of Rs 200 per day and take home ten coconuts. Further, they would be also insured for a sum of Rs five lakh each. Rodrigues said that the Government took the initiative since coconut cultivation has decreased due to scarcity of coconut pluckers. To begin with they would be stationed at Panjim and Margao centres, as the Corporation is unaware about the demand for pluckers in different parts of the State. “We have asked farmers, who want pluckers, to register themselves with the Corporation. The pluckers would be made available at Rs 600 per day,” he said. The corporation will provide climbing gadgets to them, Rodrigues said adding ‘if required they could be also hired for plucking mangoes’. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Coconut-pluckers-on-hire-from-August-1/77266.html