Rs 100 crore budget, but Coconut Development Board can't even water its own plants

KOCHI: The Coconut Development Board is supposed to promote coconut cultivation. However, even the saplings planted in front of its Kochi headquarters are not being maintained. They stand as a testament to mismanagement, withering away.

It is not due to a lack of employees—there are more than fifty staff members at the board's headquarters. Yet, no one is willing to even water the plants. Around thirty high-yield coconut trees were planted here, but without water and fertilizer, they have dried up. Except for two or three native coconut trees, most have been affected by bud rot disease and stunted growth.

Ten years ago, coconut trees were planted in soil-filled tires, but despite all efforts, they remain in the same 'vicious cycle.' There is a farm manager and five multitasking staff solely assigned to maintain these coconut saplings. Additionally, there are staff members responsible for operating pumps, yet they do not take care of these duties. All of them are permanent employees drawing high salaries. The board operates under the Union Ministry of Agriculture.

T.K. Jose was transferred; corruption took over
These coconut trees were planted in 2012 when T.K. Jose took over as chairman. He took a strict approach to the board's operations. However, after he left in 2016, the trees’ decline began. The frustration over strict work enforcement was taken out on the coconut trees. Staff responsible for maintenance were reassigned to other duties, leaving no one to fertilize or water the plants. Jose had also initiated a project to distribute high-yield coconut saplings and fertilizers to various parts of the country. But that initiative was also abandoned.

100 crore annual budget
The annual budget of the Coconut Development Board is Rs 100 crore.