Lok Sabha Question No. 4042 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Coconut Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, P.R. SUNDARAM, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4042

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018

## COCONUT CULTIVATION

4042.     SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) the details of the area under coconut cultivation in the country and the rank of India in coconut  production  in  the  world  along  with  the  details  of  the  coconut  production  in  various States of  the  country  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  State/Union  Territorywise;
- (b) the details of  the schemes formulated by the Coconut Development Board to enhance coconut production in the country;
- (c) the details of the schemes introduced by the Government for the production of various coconut based products in the country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  transform  and  modernise  the  agriculture sector which includes coconut farming in various coconut producing States of the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government to promote coconut production and to produce more value added products like 'neera' from the coconut to promote its export and earn foreign exchange?

## 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): As per the Horticulture Estimates of 2016-17, coconut is cultivated in a total area of 20.82 lakh Ha in India. As per Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2016 data, India ranks third in coconut production in the  world.  The  State-wise details of area and production of  coconut in India during the last three years and current year are at Annexure-I.

(b): Coconut Development Board is implementing several schemes through which financial and  technical  support  is  extended  to  encourage  farmers  in  the  country  to  enhance  coconut production,  which  includes production and distribution of  planting  material,  expansion  of area under  coconut,  integrated  farming  for  productivity  improvement  by  promotion  of  scientific management practices, replanting and rejuvenation of coconut gardens, extension and market promotional activities , facilitation of formation of Farmers Producers' Organisations, etc.

(c): Coconut  Development  Board  is  implementing  a  Central  Sector  scheme  'Technology Mission  on  Coconut'  since  2001-02  for  promoting  processing  and  product  diversification. Objectives of Technology Mission are as under:-

1.  Development and adoption of technologies for processing and product diversification.
2.  Market Research and Promotion
3.  Development and adoption technologies for management of pest and diseases.
4. (d): Yes, Madam.

(e): Apart from the financial assistance for expansion of area, enhancement of productivity, assistance is also extended for production of quality planting materials of high yielding varieties. A  scheme  for  removal  of  disease  affected,  senile/  old  palms,  replanting  with  new  seedlings, rejuvenation of other palms is also under implementation.

Financial assistance is extended @ 25 % of the project cost limited to Rs. 50 lakh per project as backended capital subsidy for establishing processing units for production of value added coconut products including 'Neera'. Establishment of 3 tier Farmer Producer Organizations in coconut sector are being facilitated by the Coconut Development Board. They are  encouraged  for  efficient  produce  aggregation,  primary  processing,  processing  for  value addition including 'Neera', better by-product utilization and efficient marketing of the produce.

The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India has notified Coconut Development Board as an Export Promotion Council (EPC) for all coconut products  other  than  those  made  from  coconut  husk  and  fiber,  on1st  April  2009  vide  Public Notice No.169 (RE-2008)/2004-2009.

Issuing  RCMC  to  exporters,    securing  benefits  under  Merchandise  Export  from  India Scheme  for  products  from  the  coconut  sector,  facilitating  participation  in  International  Trade Fairs, disseminating important trade information, analyzing market potential and market trends for  the  benefit  of  exporters,  providing  commercially  useful  information  and  assistance  to exporters in developing and increasing their exports providing professional advice in areas such as  technology  upgradation,  quality  and  design  improvement,  standards  and  specifications, product development, packaging etc. and organizing  seminar, conferences and Buyer Seller Meet,  etc.  are  the  major  interventions  of  the  Board  for  promoting  export  trade  of  coconut products and earn foreign exchange.

Annexure-I Area and Production of Coconut Area in '000 Ha Production in '000 MT

| Sl.No.            | STATES/UTs      | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   | 2015-16          | 2016-17   | 2016-17   | 2017-18 (1st)   | 2017-18 (1st)   |
|-------------------|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Sl.No.            | STATES/UTs      | A         | P         | A         | P                | A         | P         | A               | P               |
| ANDHRA PRADESH    | 105.99          | 1007.27   | 103.95    | 982.43    | 115.21           | 950.02    | 104.65    | 936.12          | 1               |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH |                 |           | 0.07      | 0.10      | 0.07             | 0.10      | 0.07      | 0.10            | 2               |
| ASSAM             | 21.14           | 163.45    | 19.73     | 91.25     | 20.60            | 105.70    | 24.77     | 118.57          | 3               |
| BIHAR             | 14.90           | 97.30     | 14.90     | 97.30     | 14.90            | 97.30     | 14.90     | 97.30           | 4               |
| CHHATISGARH       | 1.71            | 19.17     | 1.85      | 21.02     | 1.48             | 6.05      | 1.30      | 7.00            | 5               |
| GUJARAT           | 31.63           | 203.05    | 22.81     | 215.20    | 24.44            | 232.17    | 24.44     | 232.17          | 6               |
| KARNATAKA         | 515.03          | 3538.30   | 526.38    | 3529.83   | 513.85           | 4671.07   | 513.85    | 4671.07         | 7               |
| KERALA            | 649.85          | 3370.00   | 770.62    | 5113.14   | 770.79           | 5137.00   | 772.43    | 5137.00         | 8               |
| MAHARASHTRA       | 28.10           | 129.00    | 27.75     | 186.67    | 20.90            | 137.14    | 21.13     | 100.88          | 9               |
| MIZORAM           | 0.04            | 0.11      | 0.03      | 0.11      | 0.04             | 0.11      | 0.04      | 0.11            | 10              |
| NAGALAND          | 1.45            | 11.23     | 0.33      | 1.84      | 0.47             | 1.84      | 1.16      | 6.50            | 11              |
| ODISHA            | 50.68           | 223.60    | 50.91     | 226.00    | 50.91            | 235.64    | 50.91     | 235.61          | 12              |
| TAMIL NADU        | 465.11          | 4760.81   | 459.74    | 4247.12   | 461.06           | 4531.47   | 465.67    | 4576.78         | 13              |
| TELANGANA         | 1.69            | 17.44     | 0.48      | 0.01      | 0.50             | 1.44      | 0.26      | 1.31            | 14              |
| TRIPURA           | 6.93            | 19.55     | 7.20      | 20.31     | 4.61             | 22.23     | 7.20      | 20.31           | 15              |
| WEST BENGAL       | 29.41           | 256.18    | 29.51     | 257.11    | 29.63            | 258.32    | 29.63     | 258.32          | 16              |
| OTHERS            | 52.15           | 250.71    | 52.22     | 266.90    | 52.65            | 97.98     | 48.89     | 93.79           | 17              |
| All India Total   | All India Total | 1975.79   | 14067.17  | 2088.47   | 15256.33 2082.10 | 16485.57  |           | 2081.29         | 16492.94        |

Source:-DAC&FW ********