Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18 (IANS) Kerala’s industries department has called for innovative thinkers from across the country to develop a coconut plucking machine and win Rs.1 million as prize money.
Addressing reporters here Tuesday, state Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said that even though there are a few machines that help a non-professional coconut tree climber go up a coconut tree and pluck ripe coconuts, it has somehow failed to click.

“So we call upon anyone to develop a product that can be used to pluck coconuts standing on the ground. Anyone wanting to go ahead with this should submit a design and if it is approved they will be given Rs.100,000 to develop the product,” said Kareem.

The minister said such a product would become a huge hit because the demand for it would be huge.

The biggest problem facing those who own coconut trees in Kerala is that it is difficult to find a professional coconut tree climber to pluck the ripe coconuts — an exercise that has to be done once every 45 days.

“This is something that will be a great boost for many who are at the mercy of these tree climbers who charge Rs.25 for one tree, especially in the cities. We all wish someone develops a product so we don’t have to be at the mercy of these tree climbers,” said Joseph Thomas when heard about the government’s move to invite applications for a product to be developed.

Kerala’s annual production of coconuts has been seeing a free fall in both the area under cultivation and the production.

The area under coconut cultivation in 2005 was 8.99 lakh hectares and it fell to 8.02 lakh hectares in 2008. Similarly, the total production of coconuts fell from 6,001 million to 5,564 million during the same period.

In contrast, the area under coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka put together has increased from 29 percent in 1993 to 40 percent in 2007.