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Deejay Consultancy Services started in 1983 when a United Nations expert by the name of Professor Anthony Davis suggested that a hybrid coconut-breeding project be started in Madurai. Now, Deejay Consultancy runs in Bangalore and specializes in the production of hybrid seed nuts for selected palms. Mr. David J. Lobo is now the chairman of the consultancy service and oversees the company’s production of hybrid seed nuts and seedling production.
Products
Hybrid coconut palm seedlings are the main product of Deejay Consultancy Services with over 15 lakh hybrid seedlings in their arsenal. Since their establishment, the company has successfully established a name for quality with their seedlings doing very well in the Indian market. Their main seedling, the Deejay Hybrid, is a synthetic dwarf palm that took 28 years to develop. Deejay Hyrbids are only available at their farms in Madurai and Ambur (Tamilnadu), Bailur (Karnataka) and Sangeum (South Goa).
Success
The Deejay Hybrid owes its success to its superior genetic potential. Studies show that it produces hybrid coconut palms with a much higher productivity including “heavier copra [and] larger nuts with more tender coconut water.” Advanced orders from farmers all over India have proven the hybrid’s staying power in the market.
“Performance results from very manly hybrid gardens have resulted in the Deejay Hybrid becoming the preferred planting material for maximum productivity,” Mr. Lobo supplied. “Virtually 90% of new orders come from [the regions of Pollachi and Udumalpet area of Tamil Nadu.]”
Deejay Hybrids also yield products much faster than ordinary tall coconut palm varieties. While ordinary palms need seven years to yield and ten to stabilize, Deejay Hybrids start yielding after two years and stabilize in five. Special agricultural practices also add to success.
Mr. Lobo recommends using the drip system for irrigation and supplementing chemical fertilizers with organic ones. Palms should also be spaced properly, no more than 70 palms per acre, to ensure that each palm gets enough sunlight.
Challenges and Marketing
A lengthy but fruitful process is involved with coconut farming. For starters, before starting coconut farming a minimum of 100 litres of water per day for each palm is necessary although coconut palms do well in most types of soil. Time is also a crucial requirement.
With Deejay Consultancy Services their main trial was insufficient irrigation caused by drought. Challenges also arose with marketing due to an initial lack of knowledge and the need for a good coconut hybrid. However, now that the Deejay Hybrid has established itself a quality product, Mr. Lobo feels that the product virtually markets itself. “A quality product is its own advertisement and word of mouth is the medium,” he said.
Future Plans
Mr. Lobo estimates that coconut-farming market will grow exponentially to USD 400 million from last years USD 265 million by the end of this year. According to him, coconut based products are in very short supply. As such, the market is likely experience a boom very soon.
Due to the success of the Deejay Hybrid, the company has started new breeding projects in Ambur, Bailur, and Sangeum. Also in the works are breeding projects for the markets of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa and Maharashtra. With daily advanced orders coming in from farmers all over India, the company has made it their priority to accomplish high production goals for the future.
“Hopefully, we will produce one million seedlings four years from now,” Mr. Lobo said. “It is sad that farmers have to wait for 15 months for orders to be filled. We are doing our best to save them from this loss and waiting.”
So what are your impressions after reading the article. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions as well as post the queries if any. Mr. David J. Lobo or the editorial team of agricultureinformation.com shall be monitoring the thread.
Products
Hybrid coconut palm seedlings are the main product of Deejay Consultancy Services with over 15 lakh hybrid seedlings in their arsenal. Since their establishment, the company has successfully established a name for quality with their seedlings doing very well in the Indian market. Their main seedling, the Deejay Hybrid, is a synthetic dwarf palm that took 28 years to develop. Deejay Hyrbids are only available at their farms in Madurai and Ambur (Tamilnadu), Bailur (Karnataka) and Sangeum (South Goa).
Success
The Deejay Hybrid owes its success to its superior genetic potential. Studies show that it produces hybrid coconut palms with a much higher productivity including “heavier copra [and] larger nuts with more tender coconut water.” Advanced orders from farmers all over India have proven the hybrid’s staying power in the market.
“Performance results from very manly hybrid gardens have resulted in the Deejay Hybrid becoming the preferred planting material for maximum productivity,” Mr. Lobo supplied. “Virtually 90% of new orders come from [the regions of Pollachi and Udumalpet area of Tamil Nadu.]”
Deejay Hybrids also yield products much faster than ordinary tall coconut palm varieties. While ordinary palms need seven years to yield and ten to stabilize, Deejay Hybrids start yielding after two years and stabilize in five. Special agricultural practices also add to success.
Mr. Lobo recommends using the drip system for irrigation and supplementing chemical fertilizers with organic ones. Palms should also be spaced properly, no more than 70 palms per acre, to ensure that each palm gets enough sunlight.
Challenges and Marketing
A lengthy but fruitful process is involved with coconut farming. For starters, before starting coconut farming a minimum of 100 litres of water per day for each palm is necessary although coconut palms do well in most types of soil. Time is also a crucial requirement.
With Deejay Consultancy Services their main trial was insufficient irrigation caused by drought. Challenges also arose with marketing due to an initial lack of knowledge and the need for a good coconut hybrid. However, now that the Deejay Hybrid has established itself a quality product, Mr. Lobo feels that the product virtually markets itself. “A quality product is its own advertisement and word of mouth is the medium,” he said.
Future Plans
Mr. Lobo estimates that coconut-farming market will grow exponentially to USD 400 million from last years USD 265 million by the end of this year. According to him, coconut based products are in very short supply. As such, the market is likely experience a boom very soon.
Due to the success of the Deejay Hybrid, the company has started new breeding projects in Ambur, Bailur, and Sangeum. Also in the works are breeding projects for the markets of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa and Maharashtra. With daily advanced orders coming in from farmers all over India, the company has made it their priority to accomplish high production goals for the future.
“Hopefully, we will produce one million seedlings four years from now,” Mr. Lobo said. “It is sad that farmers have to wait for 15 months for orders to be filled. We are doing our best to save them from this loss and waiting.”
So what are your impressions after reading the article. Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions as well as post the queries if any. Mr. David J. Lobo or the editorial team of agricultureinformation.com shall be monitoring the thread.
