Lok Sabha Question No. 5088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Coconut Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5088

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## COCONUT CULTIVATION

5088.  SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that coconut plantation is not an organized cultivation in some States and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  expand  the coconut plantation on a major scale in these States;
- (b) whether there is any proposal with the Government to increase the assistance under the area expansion scheme by the Coconut Development Board and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that coconut growers in many States including Tamil Nadu are in distress situation as they are not even getting Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their  produce  and  there  is  huge  difference  between  the  retail  price  of  coconut  and  the  price actually given to farmers; and
- (d) if so, whether the Government is considering to increase the Minimum Support Price for coconut to protect the interest of the coconut growers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Yes,  in  some  non-traditional  coconut  growing  states,  coconut  plantation  is  not  an organized  cultivation.  Cultivation  of  coconut  is  organized  in  the  States  of  Andhra  Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the farmers are taking up commercial cultivation. In the State of Kerala,  which  is  the  largest  producer  of  coconut  in  the  country,  coconut  is  predominantly cultivated by small and marginal farmers as homestead gardens.

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is implementing a scheme "Expansion of Area under Coconut'  in the States where coconut cultivation is feasible.

CDB is also organizing publicity and extension  activities in these States for promoting organized  coconut  cultivation.  CDB  has  established  10  Demonstration  cum  Seed  Production Farms so far in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala,

Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Tripura  for  demonstrating  scientific  coconut  farming practices  and  to  make  available  quality  coconut  seedlings  to  meet  the  local  requirement  of farmers for taking up coconut cultivation.

(b): Coconut Development Board proposes to increase the assistance under Area Expansion scheme taking into consideration of the present cost of cultivation. The existing rate of assistance and revised rates proposed is annexed.

(c) & (d): The Government has taken the note of situation.  In order to protect the farmers from price fall, Government of India declares Minimum Support Price (MSP) for coconut every year.  The MSP for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of 'Million Copra' was increased to Rs.7500/per  quintal  for  2018  season  from  Rs.6500/-  per  quintal  in  2017.    The  MSP  for  FAQ  of  'Ball Copra' has been increased to Rs.7750/- per quintal for 2018 season from Rs.6785/- per quintal in 2017.

ANNEXURE

Assistance under the scheme 'Expansion of area under Coconut'

| Area                     | Existing assistance (25 %of cost)   | Existing assistance (25 %of cost)      | Proposed revision (40 %of cost)   | Proposed revision (40 %of cost)   |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Normal area              | Tall varities Hybrid Dwarf          | - Rs.6500/ha - Rs.6750/ha - Rs.7500/ha | Dwarf & Tall Hybrid               | -Rs.26000/ha -Rs.32000/ha         |
| Hilly and Scheduled area | Tall varities Hybrid Dwarf          | -Rs.13750/ha -Rs.13750/ha -Rs.15000/ha | Dwarf & Tall Hybrid               | -Rs.32000/ha -Rs.36000/ha         |

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