AJ: The Kerala government launched a scheme to buy nearly 40 million coconuts from farmers. The government will procure de-husked and split coconuts at a rate of Rs.11 per kg from farmers in the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Alappuzha and Kollam. Coconut is an important component of Kerala's agrarian economy. Coconut farmers numbering around 3 million have been facing a severe crash in prices.

Inaugurating the scheme, state Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said Kerala has the lowest coconut productivity among the southern states. 'Land reform has made farm holdings small and most of the farmers now raise coconut as a household crop affecting productivity. The minister said that 2008 will be observed as the year of the coconut in the state and the government is also planning to organize a World Coconut Meet

in Kochi next year.