Identification and prioritisation of challenges in coconut cultivation using the RBQ method: Evidence from Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu

Introduction

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a vital plantation crop in the Indian agricultural economy, supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers through its diverse uses in food, industry, and commerce. Tamil Nadu is one of the leading coconut-producing states, with the Coimbatore district playing a significant role due to its favourable climate and soil conditions. However, despite its economic importance, coconut cultivation in the region is increasingly challenged by a complex web of economic, biological, and infrastructural limitations. These constraints often lead to reduced yields, high cultivation costs, and severe income instability, making the sector vulnerable, especially for the small and marginal landholders who form the backbone of the region's agriculture. To formulate effective and responsive policy interventions, it is imperative to move beyond simple listing of problems and establish a definitive priority ranking based on the farmers' perception of severity. The present study addresses this gap by employing the Rank-Based Quotient (RBQ) technique. This method provides an objective, weighted index that reflects the relative importance of each constraint as ranked by the respondents. The specific objective of this research is to empirically prioritize the constraints across production, post-harvest, and marketing dimensions and analyse the socio-economic profile of coconut farmers in the Coimbatore District.

Methodology

Study area and sample

The study was conducted in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, focusing on key coconut-growing blocks. A total sample of 180 coconut farmers was selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling procedure to ensure representation across different farm sizes and socio-economic groups.

Data collection

Primary data were collected through a structured interview schedule specifically designed for this purpose. The instrument was pre-tested and validated to capture detailed information on:

Data analysis

The collected data were subjected to the following analytical techniques:

1. Percentage Analysis: Used to summarize the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the sample.

2. Rank-Based Quotient (RBQ) Analysis: Utilized to prioritize the constraints. Farmers were asked to rank the problems within each thematic group according to their perceived severity. The RBQ score for each constraint was calculated using the formula:

where: f i = Frequency of the i -th rank assigned by the farmers. R i = Weight of the i -th rank (The highest rank e.g., 1st, is given the highest weight). N= Total number of respondents (180).

The constraint with the highest RBQ score is deemed the most severe problem.

Results and discussion

Socio-economic profile of the coconut farmers

The profile analysis of the 180 respondents offers vital insights into the characteristics of the farming population, which informs the interpretation of the constraints. The demographic analysis confirms the dominance of smallholder agriculture, with marginal and small farmers constituting a combined 70.0% of the sample. This structural feature underpins the sector's financial fragility, consistent with previous studies on coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu (Rajkumar et al., 2019) [1] . The workforce is predominantly middle-aged (31-50 years, 69.44%) and experienced, yet the minimal representation of the youngest cohort (16.67%) signals a critical issue of low youth engagement and generational succession. Given that Wetland and Garden Land combined account for over 72% of the land use, the reliance on assured irrigation makes the subsequent analysis of water scarcity highly relevant, a concern commonly reported in official agricultural reports for the region (TNAU, 2024) [2] .

Prioritization of constraints (RBQ analysis)

The RBQ scores provide a robust, evidence-based prioritization. The findings reveal that the most severe constraints are interconnected, pointing to systemic failures in market and institutional support. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is inadequate.

82.6

The constraint of Market prices for coconuts is highly volatile (RBQ: 97.1) is the definitive primary challenge, confirming that economic risk is the greatest source of farmer distress, a trend consistent with the findings of in South Indian markets (George et al., 2020) [3] . This extreme volatility is a direct consequence of the structural constraint of exploitation by intermediaries (RBQ: 93.8). The high RBQ scores in this theme collectively point to a broken market chain that lacks regulation and transparency. The inadequacy of MSP (RBQ: 82.6) further confirms the lack of an effective floor price mechanism to safeguard farmer income against cyclical downturns. [4] , who studied the rapid-spreading nature and impact of these invasive species in South India (Joseph et al., 2021) [4] . This current threat necessitates a paradigm shift in extension focus from endemic diseases like Root Wilt (Mishra et al., 2017) [5] RBQ: 93.2 to rapid-response pest management. The critical finding is the high ranking of Lack of knowledge of plant protection (RBQ: 89.7), which signifies a crucial extension gap where scientific knowledge is not adequately reaching the field, hindering the effective management of emerging threats. The economic interpretation of this theme is clear: labour scarcity (RBQ: 95.4) is the primary cost driver and a fundamental bottleneck in the labour-intensive cultivation process, supporting the observations regarding the critical need for mechanization (Selvaraj et al., 2016) [6] . This constraint directly elevates the cost of farm labour (RBQ: 92.1), eroding the profitability of smallholdings. This pressure, combined with the high cost of chemical inputs (RBQ: 88.6), confirms that the cost-of-production environment is highly challenging, making subsidized mechanization programs a non-negotiable policy imperative. Poor road infrastructure affects the transportation of produce.

81.3

The inadequate irrigation water supply (RBQ: 94.8) is the dominant abiotic constraint, directly threatening crop survival and yield stability in the semi-arid conditions of the district (TNAU, 2024) [2] . The high ranking of Insufficient storage facilities (RBQ: 89.4) is a critical finding in the context of post-harvest management. The lack of decentralized, robust storage forces farmers into immediate sales, linking this infrastructural deficit directly back to the market volatility constraint (Theme A). Development focus should be dual: water-use efficiency (drip/micro-irrigation) and decentralized storage/processing.

Technical guidance and extension visits are infrequent.

5

The adoption of advanced farm machinery is low.

6

Access to market news and intelligence is limited.

78.7

The theme highlights critical institutional and policy failures. The strong perception of poor government support (RBQ: 92.8) indicates that farmers feel the existing schemes are not adequately offsetting high cultivation costs. The absence of regulated markets and cooperative marketing societies (RBQ: 90.3) is a structural policy gap whose resolution is mandatory to address the market exploitation noted in Theme A aligning with policy recommendations from George & Jose (2020) [3] . This ranking confirms that farmers prioritize the development of reliable institutional structures over purely technical guidance, though the need for improved know-how remains significant.

Conclusion

The RBQ analysis of constraints facing coconut farmers in Coimbatore District has empirically established that the primary threats are systemic market and economic risks, which overshadow technical production constraints. The Top 3 Critical Constraints are unequivocally identified as: Market Price Volatility (RBQ: 97.1), Pest Infestations (RBQ: 96.3), and Agricultural Labor Scarcity (RBQ: 95.4). The high RBQ scores for these factors define the key leverage points for policy action.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors sincerely acknowledge the support and cooperation extended by the coconut farmers who participated in the study and provided the necessary information for this research.

References

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8. Kumar P, Sharma M. Prioritizing constraints in vegetable cultivation using Rank Based Quotient method. Indian Journal of Extension Education. 2018;54(1):1-5.
9. How to cite this article: Gowdhaman P, BM P, Premavathi DR. Identification and prioritisation of challenges in coconut cultivation using the RBQ method: Evidence from Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. International Journal of Research in Agronomy. 2026;SP-9(10):253-256. doi: https://www.doi.org/10.33545/2618 060X.2026.v9.i10Sd.6839