Coconut production drops sharply in Bauphal coast

Coconut production has declined by nearly 70 percent in Bauphal, a coastal upazila of Patuakhali, leaving many farmers frustrated as most trees are now producing little or no fruit.

While some local farmers blame radiation from mobile network towers for the decline, agricultural officials and experts have dismissed the claim, saying there is no scientific evidence to support it.

They attribute the production crisis mainly to climate change, rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and increased pest and disease attacks.

According to local farmers and the agriculture department, Bauphal was once renowned for coconut production.

Coconut trees laden with green and mature fruits could be seen in homesteads and commercial orchards across the area.

The produce met local demand and was also supplied to Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Farmers say production has fallen dramatically over the past few years. Many trees that once produced heavily are now yielding little or nothing, while flowers and young fruits often fall before reaching maturity.

Bauphal Upazila Agriculture Officer agriculturist Md Milon Mia said climate change had resulted in rising temperatures, irregular rainfall and increased infestations of harmful pests and diseases, including whiteflies.

“Farmers should not pay heed to baseless rumours.

They need to adopt modern agricultural management practices. Production can return to previous levels through regular care and the timely use of pesticides,” he said.

He added that the agriculture department was providing farmers with necessary advice and assistance to tackle the problems and improve coconut production.

At Nurjahan Garden in Shaula village, there are around 700 coconut trees of different varieties.

About 500 of the trees once produced substantial amounts of fruit. However, production from most of them has almost stopped in recent years.

Md Khabir Hossain, who looks after the orchard, said, “We used to get plenty of coconuts.

But for the past two or three years, almost all the trees have become fruitless. Even when a few trees produce young fruit, they fall off.”

Md Rafique Padda, a farmer from Char Kalaiya village, said he once earned a good income from 10 to 12 coconut trees around his home.
“Now the flowers appear, but they fall before the fruit develops,” he said.

The decline has also fuelled rumours among local residents. Some farmers, including Lokman Majhi of Char Miazhan village, claim that coconut production started falling after the number of mobile network towers increased in the area.

However, agricultural officials have rejected the claim.
Md Redwan Talukder, Sub-Assistant Plant Protection Officer of Bauphal Upazila, said there was no scientific evidence linking mobile network tower radiation to declining coconut production.

“Environmental changes have caused a significant increase in pest and disease attacks, which is one of the main reasons behind the decline,” he said.