Traditional ways of Plucking Coconuts Coconut climbers/ Pluckers ‘padekars’ or coconut pluckers carry out the harvesting of tender and ripe coconuts from a plantation or residential areas. Traditionally, padekars were paid half in cash, half in coconuts. Nowadays, they charge a reasonable wage per tree (depending on the number of trees). It’s a dying skill and very few padekars are to found. A few years back, a coconut climbing machine was developed by M. J. Joseph (Appachan) in Kerala. This makes it safer and easier to climb coconut trees. The machine consists of two metal loops for holding the feet with a handle at the top for hand grip and a pedal base at the bottom. The loops are put around the tree trunk on opposite sides. The loop is lifted up by the simultaneous movement of the hand and feet, propelling the climber up the tree. A safety rope, like that used by rock climbers, keeps the climber safe from the ri...