Pollachi Seeks GI Tag for Tall Coconut

The Pollachi Tall Coconut, locally known as Pollachi Nettai Thennai, is a highly sought-after variety of coconut that enjoys significant demand during the summer months. In a bid to preserve its authenticity and protect the interests of local farmers, the producers have formally applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The application was filed by Coimbatore Coconut Producer Company Limited along with Vinayaga Coconut Farmer Producer Company Limited, Anaimalai Coconut Producer Company Limited, and Pollachi Poorna Producer Company Limited. The Department of Agricultural Economics, Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, and the Coconut Research Station, Aliyar Nagar, Pollachi, were the facilitators for this application.

P.Sanjai Gandhi, an IPR attorney who has helped Tamil Nadu get GI tags for its products, said: The Pollachi Tall Coconut is known for its large nut size, high water content in tender coconuts, thick shells, and superior copra quantity and also for its oil. The Pollachi Tall coconut tree grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet (15-18 m).

Mohanraj Shanmugham, Chairman of Anaimalai Coconut Producer Company Limited, told The Hindu that in Tamil Nadu, Pollachi stands out as the top producer of coconuts. Even in North India, people often specifically ask for Pollachi coconuts. The coconuts from here are sent to Middle East and Singapore among others, he said. Mr. Shanmugham mentioned that his FPO supports more than 590 farmers, with each farmer typically owning 10 acres of land. On average, each acre is planted with 70 trees.

Coimbatore Coconut Producer Company, Chairman R A Sakthivel, said that obtaining a GI tag would create more awareness among farmers. There are over 2056 farmers under his organization. Getting a GI tag will also benefit the value-added products that come out of coconut, P K Padmanaban, Chairman of Vinayaga Coconut Farmer Producer Company Limited, said.

The major cultivation areas for Pollachi Tall Coconuts include Anaimalai, Pollachi North, and Pollachi South blocks. These blocks are supported by Aliyar Dam for irrigation. The Aliyar project was primarily constructed for irrigation purposes to support agriculture in the Coimbatore district. Built in 1959 as part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP), it helps to regulate water distribution through a network of canals and reservoirs. The project significantly improved irrigation facilities, allowing farmers to cultivate crops more efficiently.

After the completion of the Aliyar Project, coconut cultivation increased considerably in the Pollachi and Anaimalai regions. The assured water supply from the dam enabled farmers to expand coconut plantations, transforming these areas into major hubs for coconut farming.