Lok Sabha Question No. 379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Crisis of Farmers in Kerala
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 379

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  DECEMBER, 2025

## CRISIS OF FARMERS IN KERALA

379. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Union Government has anlaysed the crisis of coconut, rubber spices and other farmers in Kerala due to lack of minimum support price, if so, the details of action taken to resolve the issue; (b) whether the Government proposes to provide adequate support price to crops grown in Kerala like coconut, rubber spices etc., if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes to provide more subsidies to farmers in Kerala; (d) whether the Government proposes to revise the liberal import policy so as to protect the  domestic  price  of  agricultural  products  like  rubber,  pepper,  coconut  etc,  if  so,  the details thereof; and (e) whether the Government has initiated action to give adequate compensation to the farmersfor their loss due to floods, droughts and other natural calamities, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛमंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  &  (b):  Government  fixes  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  for  22  mandated  crops including  Ball  Copra  and  Milling  Copra,  on  the  basis  of  the  recommendations  of  the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) & views of State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned.

However, inclusion of crops under MSP framework is dependent on several factors which  include  relatively  large  shelf  life,  non-  perishable,  widely  grown,  item  of  mass consumption, essential for food security, among others. (c):   From the year 2025-26 onwards, the subsidy under the 'Expansion of Area under Coconut' programme has been enhanced eightfold from ₹6,500/ha to ₹56,000/ha which will significantly support farmers in bringing new areas under coconut cultivation. (d): The export of coconut products has been increasing over the years and during the previous  year there was 25.35% hike in export value at Rs.4349.03 crores. Import of Copra  and  Coconut  Oil  is  regulated  under  Advance  Authorization.  The  import  of Desiccated Coconut is also permitted with a Minimum Import Price of Rs.150/kg. Thus the import policy for coconut products safeguards the domestic coconut sector. (e):   Coconut Development Board in association with State Government and Agriculture Insurance Company of India, is implementing Insurance scheme for coconut palms viz Coconut palm Insurance Scheme.  Main objective of the scheme is to insure coconut palms against natural and other perils with a view to compensate the farmer in case of loss/death of palms.

Further,  Coconut  palm  has  been  included  under  Restructured  Weather  Based Crop Insurance Scheme  (RWBCIS)  implemented  by  Department  of  Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, MoAFW. This scheme has already commenced in the state of Kerala.

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