Lok Sabha Question No. 3040 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Support to Coconut Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3040

TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th  August, 2023

## SUPPORT TO COCONUT FARMERS

3040.  SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) Whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  adequate collection of round copra and if so, the details thereof;

(b) Whether  the  Govt.  is  providing  adequate  support  price  to  coconut  farmers considering that the input costs have considerably gone up for the same and if so, the details thereof;

(c) The details of steps and measures that are being taken for promotion of coconut products and value added products from coconut;

(d) Whether the Government has any plans to promote export of coir and coir products and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) Whether the Government maintains data regarding welfare measures undertaken for  coconut  farmers  of  Kerala  and  if  so,  the  details  regarding  same,  and  district  wise particularly for Kozhikode?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a):     Government of India announces the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) Milling Copra and that of Ball Copra every year.  When prices in the market fell below MSP for Milling Copra and Ball Copra, the respective State Governments start procurement  operations  through  the  designated  State  Level  Agencies  (SLAs)  for supplying to NAFED based on the approval from Government of India. The procurement of Ball Copra has been started in major coconut producing states as per the proposals from the State Governments.

(b): MSP announced by Government of India is based on scientific evaluation of cost of  cultivation  of  coconut  giving  due  consideration  to  increased  input  costs,  cost  of production of Milling and Ball Copra and also after assessing the overall demand - supply situation of coconut oil and other edible oils, domestic and international prices for coconut, copra and coconut oil, inter-crop price parity etc.

(c):     Coconut Development Board is implementing various schemes for promotion of processing and marketing of coconut products by extending financial assistance under 'Technology  Mission  on  Coconut'.    The  Coconut  Development  Board  also  takes  up market development by facilitating establishment of procurement centers for aggregation of produce by farmers, installation of copra dryers by farmer collectives for production of fair average quality Milling copra, assistance for establishment of processing facilities for production  of  fair  average  quality  Ball  copra,  assistance  for  establishment  of  coconut kiosks by farmer collectives and manufacturers for direct marketing of coconut and its products,  market  promotion  through  participation  in  trade  fairs  and  exhibitions,  buyer seller meets etc.  In the case of branded value added products from coconut, financial assistance is extended for brand promotion, quality certification etc.

(d): In order to promote the export of coir and coir products, Coir Board under Ministry of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises,  is  implementing  the  sub-Scheme  of  Export Market Promotion under the Central Sector Scheme of Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY).  Coir Board is undertaking various programmes under the Scheme such as 'Implementation of International Cooperation Scheme' of the Ministry of MSME.

(e):     Coconut Development Board has been implementing various development and welfare schemes for coconut farmers in the country including Kerala. Out of the total assistance extended in the state of Kerala, nearly 10% is extended to the farmers of Kozhikode as it is the leading coconut growing district in the state. The data on schemes extended to farmers in Kerala over last 5 years particularly for the Kozhikode District is at Annexure .

Annexure

| State/District     | Year               | Scheme Component                                | Physical achievement                                                     |   Financial assistance extended (Rs. in lakh) |
|--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Expansion of area under coconut                 | 2187.01 ha brought under coconut cultivation and 9699 farmers benefitted |                                        139.23 |
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Regional Coconut Nurseries                      | Produced 14.75 lakh coconut seedlings in regional nurseries              |                                        307.51 |
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Assistance to Small Coconut Nurseries           | Assisted 35 small coconut nurseries in private sector                    |                                         22.07 |
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Replanting & Rejuvenation of coconut gardens    | Covered an area of 1903.18 ha                                            |                                       1001.44 |
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement | Covered 2938.52 ha                                                       |                                        398.17 |
| Kerala             | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Sub Total                                       | -                                                                        |                                       1868.42 |
| Kozhikode District | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Expansion of area under coconut                 | 139.23 ha brought under coconut cultivation and 1039 farmers benefitted. |                                         17.85 |
| Kozhikode District | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Assistance to Small Coconut Nurseries           | Assisted 8 small coconut nurseries in private sector                     |                                          6.53 |
| Kozhikode District | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Replanting & Rejuvenation of coconut gardens    | Covered an area of 264.57 ha                                             |                                        124.7  |
| Kozhikode District | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement | Covered 306.61 ha                                                        |                                         46.38 |
| Kozhikode District | 2018-19 to 2022-23 | Sub Total                                       | -                                                                        |                                        195.46 |