Kerala Bondam (dwarf orange/yellow tender coconut)

Kerala Bondam is the common name used in southern India for Gangabondam and related dwarf coconut selections that are valued for tender-nut and copra production. Gangabondam, an indigenous dwarf from coastal Andhra Pradesh, is widely listed in ICAR-CPCRI and Coconut Development Board germplasm and is one of the parents of the Keraganga hybrid (West Coast Tall x Gangabondam).

Key characteristics

Type: dwarf coconut, suited to tender-nut and copra markets
Related release: Kalpa Suvarna (CPCRI release), an orange-yellow dwarf with around 431 ml tender-nut water, 186 g copra per nut, 64.5% oil and yields of 108-130 nuts/palm/year
Recommended regions: Kerala, Karnataka and adjoining coastal belts
Stature: low crown, short trunk, allowing easy harvesting

Cultivation

Dwarf coconuts are typically established in pits of 1 x 1 x 1 m filled with topsoil, sand and farmyard manure. Spacing is closer than for talls because the canopy is smaller, often at around 6.5-7 m. Tender-nut markets favour year-round bunch production, which dwarf varieties offer because of their early and uniform flowering.

Pest and disease profile

Dwarf palms have lower canopies and are easier to monitor for rhinoceros beetle (Rhinoceros Beetle Palm Pest) and red palm weevil (Red Palm Weevil) than talls. Bud rot caused by Phytophthora palmivora is an important disease, especially in monsoon belts.

Adoption and use

Gangabondam and Kalpa Suvarna are grown both for tender-coconut markets, where their sweet water commands a premium, and for copra. Their dwarf habit and early bearing make them attractive for homestead and peri-urban plantings. They contrast with tall varieties such as Ceylon Yellow (Coconut Ceylon Yellow) that target bulk copra-oil markets. Husk from dwarf and tall plantings alike feeds the coir and cocopeat industry (Coir Cocopeat Industry).

References

Coconut Varieties. ICAR-CPCRI.
Coconut Development Board institutional portal.