Lok Sabha Question No. 329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Cultivation of Coconut
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 329

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## CULTIVATION OF COCONUT

## 329. SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K:

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

- (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to improve the cultivation of coconut and copra in  Pollachi; and
- (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to promote the usage of coconut oil?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a): Government  through  Coconut  Development  Board  (CDB)  is  implementing  schemes namely 'Expansion of area under coconut'; 'Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement'; 'Replanting  and  Rejuvenation  Coconut  Gardens';  'Establishment  of  Regional  Coconut Nurseries', etc for improving the cultivation of coconut in the state of Tamil Nadu including Pollachi. During the last financial year (2022-23), a total of Rs. 1454.29 lakh has been released under these schemes to the State of Tamil Nadu.  Further, during last three years, a total of Rs. 117.82 lakh has been released to the beneficiaries in Pollachi area (Coimbatore District) of Tamil Nadu under the schemes 'Expansion of area under coconut' and 'Technology Mission on Coconut'. The Board has also supported the establishment of a Coconut Oil Unit in the Pollachi region by M/s Pollachi Coconut Producer Co. Ltd with a financial assistance of Rs. 48.2 lakhs.

The  Board  has  facilitated  formation  of  farmers  collectives  which  are  extended  with assistance for production of milling copra of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) through aggregation of coconuts produced by member farmers. The Board also provides recommendation to the Commission  on  Agricultural  Costs  and  Prices  (CACP)  every  year  for  the  declaration  of Minimum Support Price for Copra.

- (b): The steps taken by the Government to promote the usage of coconut oil are as under :
-  The Government through  CDB extends support for the  establishment  of  processing units for production of copra and coconut oil under the scheme 'Technology Mission on

Coconut' (TMOC). Financial assistance is extended on  project basis @ 25% of the project cost as credit linked back-ended subsidy.

-  Copra production: Financial assistance has been extended for the establishment of modern copra dryers to 34 collectives.
-  Coconut  oil  production: The  Board  has  extended  support  to  75  coconut  oil  units across the country of which 12 units are established in Tamil Nadu.
-  Quality  Testing: Manufacturers  are  extended  support  for  testing  of  the  coconut  oil through  the  Quality  Testing  laboratory  of  Coconut  Development  Board  which  is accredited under National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
-  Brand promotion: The Board extends support for brand promotion of coconut oil for registered brands.  The  support is project based  and  assistance  extended  on reimbursement  basis  @  100%  of  cost  subject  to  a  maximum  of  Rs.  25  lakhs  for Government agencies and cooperative societies and 50% subject to a maximum of Rs 7.5 lakhs for private sector.
-  Market promotion: During the past five years, around 193 manufacturer exporters were facilitated  to  participate  in  23  national  trade  fairs  to  promote  their  products  including coconut oil.
-  Buyer  Seller  meets: The  Board  organizes  Buyer  Seller  meets  for  facilitating  trade linkages and promoting market development. The Virtual Trade Fair organized by the Board in 2022 with the participation of 53 manufacturers of coconut products and 347 buyers participated. The Board facilitated five B2B meetings and 371 individual B2B meetings  organized  with  major  retail  players  like  Amazon,  Flipkart,  Lulu  India,  Lulu Dubai and Nesto group.
-  Establishing  nutritional  and  health  attributes  of  coconut  oil: The  Board  has facilitated clinical studies on the health attributes of coconut oil in order to conclusively establish the goodness of coconut through scientific evidence. The Board, along with International  Coconut  Community  organizes  seminars  in  which  discussions  and deliberations on the prospects for coconut oil in the global market, the clinical studies across the globe on the health attributes etc are undertaken.
-  Generic promotion: The Board undertakes generic promotion of coconut oil through release of advertisements in different media highlighting the goodness of coconut.
-  Export promotion: Being the Export Promotion Council for coconut products other than coir, the Board facilitates promotion of export of coconut oil. The Board also facilitates participation of manufacturers of coconut oil in international exhibitions. During the past five  years,  around  57  manufacturer  exporters  were  facilitated  to  participate  in  14 international trade fairs to promote their products including coconut oil. One B2B meet was also organized alongside Gulfood 2023 at Dubai.

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