Lok Sabha Question No. 2600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Coconut Development Board
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri G M Harish Balayogi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2600

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## COCONUT DEVELOPMENT BOARD

2600.  SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

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

- (a) the details of various schemes and components being implemented by the Coconut Development Board (CDB) across the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of number and location of State centres, regional/field offices, and other infrastructure  established  by  the  Board,  such  as,  but  not  limited  to,  demonstration-cumseed  production  farms,  regional  nurseries,  quality  testing  laboratories,  IT  centres,  and Centres of Excellence, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether any evaluation has been conducted regarding the regional distribution and accessibility  of  such  facilities,  especially  in  emerging  or  underserved  coconut-growing areas; and
- (d) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  regional  outreach  and adoption of technology among coconut farmers in the country, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): Details  of  various  schemes  and  components  being  implemented  by  the  Coconut Development Board (CDB) across the country is attached as ANNEXURE I. The  Statewise/UT  wise  allocation  under  CDB  Scheme  for  2025-26  is  attached  as ANNEXURE II.
- (b): The details of number and location of State Centres, Regional/field offices and other infrastructure established by the Board is attached as ANNEXURE III .
- (c): The Board is having 25 establishments throughout India including NE states to cover all  potential  areas  suited  for  coconut  cultivation.  The  offices  of  the  Board  are  regularly conducting baseline surveys, awareness programmes as part of various scheme implementation  and  for  chalking  out  programmes  for  serving  the  coconut  farmers  in emerging/ underserved areas.
- (d): The Board is  implementing  various  schemes  for  the  production  of  quality  coconut seedling, increasing the production and productivity of coconut, value addition, marketing, awareness  programme,  insurance  etc.  through  the  regional  offices/state  centres/DSP farms/other unit offices of the Board. An amount of                              Rs. 436.42 Crores has been utilized in various coconut growing states during last 3 years are given below: (Rs.in lakhs)
- The details of State/UT wise achievement under various field-oriented schemes for last year's is attached as Annexure IV.
- CDB established 11 DSP farms in different agro climatic conditions for demonstrating region specific technology on coconut cultivation to farmers and production of quality seedlings.
- The  Board  demonstrated  the  scientific  management  practices  in  farmer's  field  of various coconut growing regions for production and productivity improvement through the schemes  namely  'Laying  out  of  demonstration  plot'  and  'Replanting  and  Rejuvenation' scheme. During the last 5 years, covered an area of 54725 ha by utilising Rs.183.23 Crore under LODP scheme and 30481 ha by utilising Rs.156.63 crores under R&R scheme.
- During the last 5 years, 23100 ha was brought under coconut cultivation by following scientific  management  practices  under  'Expansion  of  area  under  coconut'  scheme  by utilizing Rs.14.25 Crores.
- Carried out product promotional campaigns and dissemination of information on the activities  of  the  Board  among  farmers,  entrepreneurs  and  stakeholders  through  various extension tools.
- Conducted awareness training programmes at different parts of the country through its  Regional  and  State  centers  in  India.  During  the  last  5  years  Board  conducted  1180 awareness programmes (State level seminar, district level seminars, block level seminars, FPO meeting,  exposure  visit  within  state,  farmer  field  day  programmes  and  promotional activities on coconut) throughout the country. It is targeted to conduct 668 awareness cum skill development programme during 2025-26.
- The Board brings out periodicals in seven languages viz. Hindi, English, Kannada, Malayalam,  Tamil,  Marathi  and  Telugu.  The  periodical  in  English,  titled  Indian  Coconut

| Year    | Financial Target (Total)   | Financial Achievement (Total)   | Financial achievement (Field oriented schemes)   |
|---------|----------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2022-23 | 11000.00                   | 10751.58                        | 5972.29                                          |
| 2023-24 | 15613.00                   | 15040.85                        | 10153.28                                         |
| 2024-25 | 17500.00                   | 17849.95                        | 13030.57                                         |
| Total   | 44,113.00                  | 43,642.38                       | 29,156.14                                        |

Journal, is widely circulated in India among the progressive farmers, extension workers and scientists. The periodicals in vernacular languages cater to the information need of regional farmers. Regular dissemination of information through the periodicals facilitates the transfer of technology.

- The  Board  has  been  undertaking  multimedia  product  promotional  campaign  for promoting coconut and coconut products. The campaign was carried out through print and electronic  media.  These  efforts  have  helped  to  give  wide  coverage  on  the  goodness  of coconut and increased the level of consumption of coconut products.
- The CDB Institute of Technology, Aluva imparts training to farmers, entrepreneurs, Self  Help  Groups  on  coconut  kernel-based  convenience  foods  and  coconut  water-based vinegar.  Also  under  'Technology  Mission  on  Coconut'  scheme,  Board  provide  25%  of project cost to a maximum of Rs.3.00 Crores for adopting the technology under Processing and Production diversification.

## DETAILS OF CDB SCHEMES AND COMPONENTS

Coconut Development Board is a statutory body established by the Government of India for the integrated development of coconut production and utilization in the country with focus on productivity increase and product diversification.

The Board has 4 Regional Offices at Bangalore in Karnataka, Chennai in Tamilnadu, Guwahati in Assam and Patna in Bihar. There are six State Centres situated at Pitapally in Odisha, Kolkata in West Bengal, Thane in Maharashtra, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Port Blair in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Junagadh, Gujarat. The Board has  eleven  Demonstration  cum  Seed  Production  (DSP)  Farms  at  Mandya  (Karnataka), Abhayapuri (Assam), Madhepura (Bihar), Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh), Neriamangalam (Kerala),  Vegiwada  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Pitapally  (Odisha),  Palghar  (Maharashtra),  Dhali (Tamil Nadu), Hichachara (Tripura) and Fulia (West Bengal). A field office is established at Thiruvananthapuram,  Kerala.  A  Market  Development  cum  Information  Centre  has  been established in Delhi. The Board has set up CDB Institute of Technology (CIT) at Vazhakulam near Aluva in Kerala. The details of various schemes and components of CDB Guidelines are available on its websites.

The major programmes being implemented by the Board are:

## 1.  PRODUCTION OF QUALITY PLANTING MATERIAL

## 1.a. DEMONSTRATION CUM SEED PRODUCTION FARM (DSP) :

Coconut Development Board have established 11 Demonstration cum Seed Production Farms across the country in states viz Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.

- (i) Setting up of new DSP Farms An amount of Rs. 30 lakh is allotted for the initial two years from the budget for the new farms established.
- (ii) Maintenance of existing DSP FarmsFrom the third  year onwards,  till  the yield stabilization (15-20 years), a maximum of Rs.1.00 lakh per Ha/year shall be granted from the budget for maintenance of the farms.

## 1.b.  ASSISTANCE  FOR  QUALITY  PLANTING  MATERIAL  PRODUCTION  IN  PUBLIC SECTOR NURSERIES :

The scheme is intended to extend financial assistance of 50% of seedling production cost  @  Rs.  20.00  per  seedling.  The  remaining  cost  of  production  shall  be  borne  by  the implementing agencies. Quality seedlings of all released varieties and hybrids can be raised in nurseries by utilizing the existing infrastructure facility.

Nurseries in State Government/Public sector/SAU/SHU/KVK and Boards DSP farms are  eligible  for  financial  assistance  to  enhance  the  production  of  planting  materials  by utilizing existing manpower.

## 1.c. ESTABLISHMENT OF NUCLEUS COCONUT SEED GARDEN :

The objective is to establish nucleus coconut seed gardens of selected varieties in both public and private sectors to meet the growing demand for quality coconut seedlings of released varieties, including hybrids

To  establish  nucleus  coconut  seed  gardens  with  promising  coconut  varieties, financial assistance at 50% of Rs.7.20 lakh per ha i.e. Rs.3.60 lakh per ha will be provided by the Board in three installments on a reimbursement basis, as follows:

-  1 st installment  :  Rs. 1.80 lakh/ha (50%)
-  2 nd installment :  Rs.0.90 lakh/ ha (25%)
-  3 rd installment  :  Rs.0.90 lakh/ha (25%)

The minimum  area required  for  establishing  a  seed  garden  is 2  hectares ,  and financial assistance will be extended for a maximum area of 4 hectares . However, in nontraditional  areas  and  North  Eastern  (NE)  states ,  the minimum  area  requirement  is relaxed to 1 hectare .

## 1.d. ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL COCONUT NURSERY:

The scheme is implemented on project basis to ensure the production of quality coconut  seedlings  by  providing  financial  assistance  for  the  establishment  of  coconut nurseries.

Financial  assistance  limited  to  Rs.90/-  per  seedling  @  100%  of  cost  for  public sector and 50% for private sector with a maximum production capacity of 25,000 selected quality seedlings per acre. The minimum production requirement is 6,250 seedlings per year in an area of 0.10 hectares. However, in non-traditional coconut-growing areas the minimum production capacity per unit is reduced to 3,125 seedlings.

## 1.e. ACCREDITATION AND RATING OF COCONUT NURSERIES :

Coconut Development Board will grant graded recognition based on the infrastructure, production system  and  quality parameters  of planting material  and management practices adopted.

-  Any  public/private  individual/institution  dealing  with  minimum  3  year  experience  in production of coconut seedlings can be a beneficiary under the scheme.
-  Maximum of Rs.1.50 lakhs for a  nursery of annual production  of min 20,000 seedlings with pattern of assistance of 100% of cost for public sector and for private sector.

## 2. EXPANSION OF AREA UNDER COCONUT

-  The objective of the  programme is to provide financial/ incentive subsidy and technical support to the farmers for coconut cultivation on scientific lines in suitable new areas as well as stabilizing the existing area for increasing the production.
-  Under this scheme, the financial assistance to a tune of Rs. 56,000 per ha is extended in two equal annual installments for planting coconut seedlings in new area. The subsidy is extended for a maximum of 2 ha and minimum area of 0.08 ha (20 cents) per beneficiary in two equal annual installments, as detailed below:

## 3. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT IN EXISTING COCONUT HOLDINGS : PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH COCONUT BASED CROPPING SYSTEM :

## Objective :

The  main  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  improve  the  production  and  productivity  of coconut holdings through integrated approach and thereby increasing the net income from a unit  holding  on  a  sustainable  manner.  The  scheme  caters  to  key  farming  dimensions  of productivity improvement  through  various integrated management  practices  including promotion of coconut based cropping systems.

## Mode of operation:

The  scheme  shall  be  implemented  on cluster  basis through  the  Department  of Agriculture/Horticulture  of  the  State  Governments  concerned  as  well  as  directly  by  the Board.

## Financial Assistance:

The  subsidy  is  100%  of  the  cost  i.e.  Rs.  42,000/-  per  hectare  limited  to  max  of  2  ha  per beneficiary in two equal annual installments

## 4. TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION/ QUALITY TESTING LAB

CDB  Institute of Technology (CIT) set up at South Vazhakulam, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala is the technical wing of Coconut Development Board which aims at overall  development  and  promotion  of  Coconut  Industry  through  a  set  of  focused activities. CIT aims to integrate advancement in coconut technology, training, and testing on a single platform.

Activities undertaken are: Quality Testing Lab, Entrepreneurship Development Programme/ Technology transfers and Process Demonstration of Value Added Coconut products, Technology Research, Development & Standardization of value added coconut products, Internship facility, Incubation facility, Project related consultancy etc

## 5.  MARKET  INTELLIGENCE  &  RESEARCH,  STATISTICS,  PRODUCT  &  BRAND PROMOTION AND EXPORT PROMOTION SERVICES

Coconut Development Board undertakes activities for facilitating market development, increasing  market  access,  expanding  markets,  improving  quality  in  accordance  with market  demand  and  promotion  of  market  for  coconut  and  its  value  added  products leading to the development of coconut sector in the country as mandated in the Coconut Development Board Act.

## 6. TECHNOLOGY MISSION ON COCONUT

-  Development/ Demonstration of technologies:

The  projects  received  from  Public  sector  institutions  for  the  development  or demonstration of technologies for management of insect, pests and disease affected coconut gardens are given the assistance of 100% of the project cost limited to Rs. 50.00 lakh.

-  Adoption of technologies:

The  projects  received  for  the  adoption  of  technologies  for  management  of insect, pests and disease affected coconut gardens are assisted at the rate of 25% of the project cost (ie Rs. 0.40 lakh per ha), on pro-rata basis.

-  Development/ Acquisition/ training/ demonstration of technologies

The  projects received from  Public sector institutions for  the  development/ Acquisition/ training/ demonstration  of  technologies  for  processing  and  product diversification  are  given  the  assistance  of  100%  of  the  project  cost  limited  to  Rs. 100.00 lakh.

-  Adoption of technologies for processing and product diversification

The projects received for the adoption of technologies for processing and product diversification are assisted with back ended credit capital subsidy limited to 25% of the project cost in general areas and 50 % for higher cost norm areas as per MIDH norms and FPOs. The maximum subsidy is limited to Rs.300 lakh

-  TMOC  scheme  is  on  project  basis.  The  detailed  project  proposal  along  with  the required  documents  needs  to  be  submitted  to  the  Board.  The  project  will  be scrutinized by the Internal Screening Committee (ISC).

## 7.  REPLANTING AND REJUVENATION OF COCONUT GARDENS

The main objective of the scheme is to enhance the production and productivity of  coconut  by  removal  of  disease  advanced,  unproductive,  old  and  senile  palms, replanting  with  quality  seedlings  and  rejuvenating  the  remaining  palms  through  an integrated package of practices. The scheme is implemented on project basis based on State specific problems.

## Components and rate of assistance

| 1 st year   | Cutting & removal of all the identified palms in the garden as per eligibility @ Rs.1000/- per palm to a maximum of Rs.32,000/- per ha. (through DBT)   |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1 st year   | Rejuvenation programme @Rs.8750/ha                                                                                                                      |
| 1 st year   | Replanting subsidy @ Rs.45/ seedling to a maximum of Rs.4500/- per ha                                                                                   |
| 2 nd year   | Rejuvenation programme @Rs.8750/ha.                                                                                                                     |

## 8. KERA SURAKSHA INSURANCE SCHEME

-  This  is  a  comprehensive  Group  Personal  Accident  Insurance  Scheme,  implemented  by Coconut  Development  Board  in  association  with  Insurance  companies  for  Coconut  Tree Climbers  (CTC),  Neera  Tapping  (NT),  Hybridization  workers  and  Coconut  Labourers. Under  this  scheme,  Coconut  Tree  Climbers,  Neera  Technicians,  Hybridization  Workers, coconut labourers working in either coconut farms or small scale coconut based industries (registered)  can  avail  insurance  against  all  accidents  &  hospital  related  expenses  with respect  to  accidents.  The  scheme  also  covers  the  youths  trained  under  Coco  Mitra  and workers /labourers engaged in the DSP farms maintained by Coconut Development Board.
-  Annual  premium  of  the  policy  shall  be  shared  between  Board  and  the  beneficiary  in  the ratio 85:15.

## State/UTs wise Allocation for 2025-26

| Sl. No   | State/ UT                         |   Financial (Rs. In lakhs) |
|----------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1        | Karnataka                         |                    2461.75 |
| 2        | Goa                               |                     194.49 |
| 3        | Maharashtra                       |                     771.13 |
|          | Regional Office Bangalore-Region  |                    3427.38 |
| 4        | Tamil Nadu                        |                    3771.7  |
| 5        | Puducherry                        |                      70.32 |
| 6        | Andhra Pradesh                    |                    3040.35 |
| 7        | Telangana                         |                     117.59 |
| 8        | A & N Islands                     |                      46.96 |
|          | Regional Office Coimbatore-Region |                    7046.91 |
| 9        | Bihar                             |                     163.73 |
| 10       | Jharkhand                         |                       7.4  |
| 11       | Odisha                            |                     364.67 |
| 12       | West Bengal                       |                     307.01 |
| 13       | Gujarat                           |                     408.42 |
| 15       | Rajasthan                         |                       1.4  |
| 16       | Chhattisgarh                      |                      44.78 |
| 17       | Madhya Pradesh                    |                       1.72 |
| 18       | MDIC, New Delhi                   |                       1.5  |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh                     |                      37.5  |
|          | Regional Office Patna-Region      |                    1338.13 |
| 20       | Assam                             |                     803.68 |
| 21       | Tripura                           |                     338.43 |
| 22       | Nagaland                          |                      72.4  |
| 23       | Arunachal Pradesh                 |                      77.17 |
| 24       | Meghalaya                         |                      43.57 |
| 25       | Mizoram                           |                      23.84 |
| 26       | Manipur                           |                      10.4  |
|          | Regional Office Guwahati -Region  |                    1369.49 |
| 27       | Kerala                            |                    3104.91 |
| 28       | Lakshadweep                       |                       9.68 |
|          | Head Office-Region                |                    3114.59 |
|          | Total                             |                   16296.5  |

## CDB Offices

| Head Office: KERA BHAVAN, KOCHI, KERALA   | Head Office: KERA BHAVAN, KOCHI, KERALA                      |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| Regional Offices                          | Regional Offices                                             |
| 1.                                        | Bengaluru, Karnataka                                         |
| 2.                                        | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu                                       |
| 3.                                        | Guwahati, Assam                                              |
| 4.                                        | Patna, Bihar                                                 |
| State Centres                             | State Centres                                                |
| 1.                                        | Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands                  |
| 2.                                        | Thane, Maharashtra                                           |
| 3.                                        | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh                                   |
| 4.                                        | Pitapalli, Odisha                                            |
| 5.                                        | Kolkata, West Bengal                                         |
| 6.                                        | Junagadh, Gujarat                                            |
| Other Unit Offices                        | Other Unit Offices                                           |
| 1.                                        | Market Development-cum-Information Centre, Delhi             |
| 2.                                        | CDB Institute of Technology, South Vazhakulam, Aluva, Kerala |
| 3.                                        | Field Office, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala                     |
| Demonstration-cum-Seed Production Farms   | Demonstration-cum-Seed Production Farms                      |
| 1.                                        | Mandya, Karnataka                                            |
| 2.                                        | Abhayapuri, Bongaigaon, Assam                                |
| 3.                                        | Singheshwar, Madhepura, Bihar                                |
| 4.                                        | Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh                                      |
| 5.                                        | Neriamangalam, Ernakulam, Kerala                             |
| 6.                                        | Vegiwada, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh                      |
| 7.                                        | Pitapalli, Khurda, Odisha                                    |
| 8.                                        | Palghar, Maharashtra                                         |
| 9.                                        | Dhali, Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu                                 |
| 10.                                       | Hichachara, South Tripura, Tripura                           |
| 11.                                       | Fulia, Nadia, West Bengal                                    |

## ANNEXURE III

## Annexure IV

## State/UT wise Financial Achievement under CDB schemes during 2020-21 to 2024-25

| S.No.   | State/UT          |   2020-21 | 2021-22   |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1       | Karnataka         |   1015.37 | 1345.09   |   2622.7  |  5812.08  |  6660.72  |
| 2       | Goa               |      3.39 | 11.12     |     39.68 |   156.16  |   170.045 |
| 3       | Maharashtra       |     30.33 | 52.62     |     52.54 |    34.68  |    43.62  |
|         | ROB-Region        |   1049.09 | 1408.83   |   2714.92 |  6002.92  |  6874.38  |
| 4       | Tamil Nadu        |   1936.3  | 1523.06   |   1516.34 |  2056.96  |  3396.46  |
| 5       | Puducherry        |     34.61 | 25.20     |      6.4  |    30.78  |    30.992 |
| 6       | Andhra Pradesh    |   1428.81 | 1227.37   |    822.4  |  1246.38  |  1095.39  |
| 7       | Telangana         |      1.32 | 4.58      |      5.88 |     9.36  |    14.28  |
| 8       | A & N Islands     |      2.06 | 0.34      |      1.59 |     4.65  |     5.7   |
|         | ROC-Region        |   3403.1  | 2780.55   |   2352.61 |  3348.13  |  4542.82  |
| 9       | Bihar             |     15.78 | 24.74     |     28.65 |    30.32  |    25.73  |
| 10      | Jharkhand         |      0    | 0         |      0    |     0     |     1.5   |
| 11      | Odisha            |     27.88 | 86.40     |     82.95 |    60.4   |   137.37  |
| 12      | West Bengal       |     16.71 | 28.19     |     32.13 |    42.43  |   131.59  |
| 13      | Gujarat           |     48.22 | 36.19     |     17.01 |    59.89  |    76.59  |
| 14      | Chhattisgarh      |     35.9  | 43.53     |     31.15 |    27.53  |    35.64  |
| 15      | Madhya Pradesh    |      0    | 0         |      0    |     0.02  |     0     |
|         | ROP-Region        |    144.49 | 219.05    |    191.89 |   220.59  |   408.42  |
| 16      | Assam             |    269.63 | 32.95     |     41.81 |   159.62  |   356.55  |
| 17      | Tripura           |     84.16 | 25.61     |     27.18 |    69.81  |   207.19  |
| 18      | Nagaland          |      1.68 | 38.39     |     38.81 |     5.19  |     0     |
| 19      | Arunachal Pradesh |     35.13 | 15.26     |     36.68 |     8.69  |     3.49  |
| 20      | Meghalaya         |      3.33 | 2.85      |      2.64 |     3.39  |     2.64  |
| 21      | Mizoram           |      4.06 | 6.40      |      6.5  |     2.39  |     3     |
| 22      | Manipur           |      5.28 | 10.40     |      2.08 |     0     |     0     |
|         | ROG-Region        |    403.27 | 131.86    |    155.7  |   249.085 |   572.87  |
| 23      | Kerala            |    224.4  | 401.40    |    542.66 |   315.82  |   609.69  |
| 24      | Lakshadweep       |     23.98 |           |     14.51 |    16.73  |    22.38  |
|         | HO-Region         |    248.38 | 401.40    |    557.17 |   332.55  |   632.07  |
|         | Total             |   5248.33 | 4941.69   |   5972.29 | 10153.3   | 13030.6   |

*****