Profitable Business Idea: Throughout India, coconuts are sold from north to south. It has many uses, including religious functions, medicines, and cosmetics. A coconut tree can bear fruit for up to 80 years. As a result, cultivating it can be beneficial.
The coconut plant is also called ‘Kalpavriksha‘ or ‘the plant of heaven‘ as it is more than 10 meters tall. India ranks first in the world in the production of coconuts. The cultivation of coconut doesn’t take much effort; you can earn in lakhs with very less investment with coconut farming. Its cultivation does not require pesticides and expensive fertilizers. However, whiteflies can damage coconut plants, and that’s why farmers must take precautions in this regard.
Uses of Coconut Tree
There are numerous health benefits of coconut. The liquid that is found in green coconut or coconut water is very nutritious. At the same time, its pulp is used for eating. Every part of the coconut tree is used in some form or the other, increasing its commercial value. The uses of different parts of the coconut tree are given below:
- The Flesh: Food, Milk, and Flour
- The Water: A Healthy, Refreshing Drink
- The Oil: For Cooking, Skin, and Hair
- The Shells: To Steam Food and Craft With
- The Husks: A Natural Scrubber and Craft Material, Ropes
- Tree Leaves: Thatching
- The Wood: Fires in Traditional Kitchens
- The Flowers: Medicine
Planting Time for Coconuts:
Coconut plants grow best after the rainy season. The first coconuts appear after four years. When the coconut fruit turns green, it is plucked. Ripening the coconut fruit takes more than 15 months.
Soil & Weather Requirements For Coconut Cultivation
Coconut plants require sandy soil to grow. They can’t be grown in rocky or black soil. Field drainage is essential for their cultivation. Ripening requires warm weather and normal temperatures. However, it does not require a lot of water. Rainwater provides the water supply.
Coconut Farming: Irrigation
Coconut seedlings are irrigated using the drip method because they are sensitive to water and can even die if water is applied too frequently. Coconut plants need light moisture in the beginning. It is recommended that the plant be watered every three days during the summer. One irrigation per week is sufficient during the winter season.