Farmers harvest green coconuts every 3-4 months, earning more than from mature ones
1 hour(s) ago
Partha Chakrabortty
Farmers in Bagerhat are increasingly turning to green coconut (daab) production over mature coconuts, driven by higher profit margins and changing market demands.According to agricultural officials, the district has approximately 1.1 million fruit‑bearing coconut trees, up from 950,000 recorded during the 2021‑22 period. This growth is attributed to climate‑smart agricultural initiatives and efforts to revitalise the region’s coconut groves.The shift is primarily economic. Farmers harvest coconuts at the green stage — roughly every three to four months — allowing for three harvests a year.Farmers are finding green coconuts more lucrative, local traders and growers in Badhal and Tangrakhali areas of Kachua upazila said. A single green coconut can fetch Tk 50–60 at the farm level. In contrast, waiting for a mature coconut — which requires four to five months — yields only about Tk 80. Given the frequency of the green harvest, the financial incentive to prioritise daab is clear.The decline of the local coconut oil industry has also reduced demand for mature coconuts. With many traditional oil mills shuttered, the market for mature coconuts has become largely seasonal, limited mainly to culinary use during winter.
