A simple smartphone application is reshaping how coconuts are harvested in Kerala, attracting the attention of one of India’s leading business figures. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, recently praised "Hello Nariyal", a service that allows homeowners to book professional coconut climbers as easily as ordering a cab or food.

The venture was founded by Mohandas P, a former army officer, who struggled to hire workers for his own farm. He created a structured system where trained climbers arrive in uniform, equipped with specialised safety gear and tools. The service addresses the region’s labour shortage while offering workers better pay and social recognition.

A high-tech harvest for Kerala

Mahindra, known for steering one of India’s largest vehicle and technology conglomerates, highlighted the blend of tradition and modernity. He noted that although India is recognised globally for high-end IT exports, it is now digitising even conventional local jobs.

He also observed that workers from other states, including Chhattisgarh, are travelling to Kerala to take advantage of these technology-enabled agricultural opportunities, illustrating the appeal of structured, professional labour in rural areas.

The human side of digitisation

Social media users have welcomed the initiative, calling it a prime example of work that artificial intelligence cannot replace, as the physical skill of climbing trees remains beyond machines.

Commentators emphasise that such platforms provide dignity to manual labour. By stabilising income and formalising work, the app shifts societal perceptions, transforming coconut harvesting from routine physical labour into a respected, tech-enabled service. Homeowners gain reliable access to skilled workers, while climbers receive steady employment and recognition.