(ICFAI conducts interactive webinar session on “ Paradigm Shift in the Indian Agriculture: Perspective from an Agribusiness Leader“)
“Profitability attracts the youth to take up agriculture as a profession”, observed Mr. David Lobo, Chairman Deejay Group. He was speaking on the topic “Paradigm Shift in Indian Agriculture: Perspectives from an Agribusiness Leader” in the 18th WiseViews interactive webinar series conducted on August 20, 2021 by ICFAI for the benefit of students and working professionals.
Mr. Lobo, with his vast experience in coconut farming explained the array of benefits of the coconut tree and the business opportunities it creates in the coming years. Mr. Lobo stated that “Coconut industry is expected to grow from 35 billion dollars to 95 billion dollars in next five years. The coconut produces 15,000 kgs of sugar with just 200 lts of water whereas the Sugar cane crop can extract only 3000 kgs of sugar with a water intake of 3000 lts. The coconut will be soon used to make leather products also”.
Mr. Lobo further said “ Deejay Group is committed to help the farmers to gain out of the tremendous opportunities that coconut farming provides. The group follows Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP), Coconut Data Base Management System (CDBMS), Guaranteed Hybrid Program, Pedigreed Program, Genome Sequencing etc., to come up with innovative solutions in the coconut farming. The aim of Deejay Group is to help more and more farmers to earn good yields from the coconut crop.”
Mr. Lobo opined that the Governments should extend technical support to the farmers to encourage coconut farming. Mr. Lobo gave few tips related to the coconut farming. He said the first 3 yrs are very important in coconut farming and the plants cannot sustain weather conditions under 10 degrees temperature. He also suggested that inter-cultivation suits the coconut farming and the farmers should think of implementing the same.
The webinar was moderated by Prof. R Prasad, Director – Academic Wing, ICFAI Group and Prof. Sudhakar Rao, Director – Branding, ICFAI Group.
About 250 participants including entrepreneurs, Research Scholars, prospective students from various parts of the country registered for this event which was also streamed live on the facebook.
About the Speaker: Mr. David J. Lobo, Chairman, Deejay Group
David J. Lobo started his first business in 1969 which grew to become the Deejay Group –one of the largest Poultry Farms and Breeding organizations and later on the best hybrid coconut palm breeding business in the Country.
The Deejay Group commenced research into Coconut Breeding in 1983 and today has Deejay Farms, the largest Hybrid Coconut Breeding entity in India that has developed the highest producing hybrid coconut tree in the country, if not the world.The Deejay Coconut Farm has become the most recognized Coconut Breeding Project, acclaimed for its ideal Coconut Hybrid Palm, the Deejay Sampoorna® Hybrid Coconut Seedling. The company does its breeding activity in 600 acre farms spread across the country and has supplied more than 3 million Hybrid seedlings to the farmers.
In 2018, on our Independence Day, he launched the Deejay Agri Support Foundation, by giving 60 poor farm women 10 seedlings each to help them gain financial security. Only the coconut tree gives a monthly income continuously for the next 50 odd years. He went on to distribute 3150 hybrid coconut seedlings to 315 women in total during the rest of the year and would be targeting 2000 beneficiaries for this year. The Deejay Hybrid gives the farmer a consistent income of more than Rs.2 lakhs per acre per annum and helps their economic upliftment.
About ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education: The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education is Deemed-to-be University under section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. ICFAI Business School (IBS) is a constituent of ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. About 5,800 students are pursuing various programs in the Faculty of Management (ICFAI Business School), Faculty of Science & Technology (IcfaiTech), Faculty of Law (ICFAI Law School) and ICFAI School of Architecture, NAAC, an autonomous institute of University Grants Commission has also accredited The University with ‘A+’ Grade with an impressive score (institutional CGPA) of 3.43 out of 4.
