Lok Sabha Question No. 4007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Initiatives by Coconut Development Board in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4007

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH 2026

## INITIATIVES BY COCONUT DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN TAMIL NADU

4007.  SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI NAVASKANI K: SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Coconut  Development  Board  is implementing  multiple  initiatives  in  Tamil  Nadu  for  enhancing  coconut  production, productivity and farmer income, including replanting and rejuvenation, area expansion, establishment of quality nurseries and integrated farming practices, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the physical and financial progress achieved under the Replanting and Rejuvenation Scheme and Area Expansion Programme in the State during the last three years;

(c)  the  number  of  coconut  nurseries,  demonstration  plots,  Producer  Societies  and Federations supported in Tamil Nadu and their impact on small and marginal coconut growers;

(d)  the  extent  of  training  provided  under  Friends  of  Coconut  Tree  and  Cocomitra programmes to address labour shortages; and

(e) the steps being taken to strengthen pest and disease management, value addition units and market linkages to further improved coconut farmers ' livelihoods in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) : Yes. The Government is aware that the Coconut Development Board (CDB) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing several initiatives in  Tamil  Nadu  to  improve  coconut  production,  productivity,  and  farmer  income including  replanting  and  rejuvenation,  area  expansion,  establishment  of  quality nurseries and integrated farming practices. These initiatives are carried out through various schemes and programmes. Key details of these schemes/programmes are at Annexure I .

- (b) : An amount of Rs.4178.46 lakh has been utilized in Tamil Nadu during the last three  years  (2022-23  to  2024-25)  under  the Replanting  and  Rejuvenation  of coconut palms Scheme in an area of 8888.88 hectares.

Further, under the Area Expansion programme , 1824.72 hectares of additional area  has  been  brought  under  new  coconut  cultivation  in  the  State  with  financial assistance  of  Rs.220.89  lakh,  during  the  last  three  years,  thereby  increasing  the coverage  of  coconut  in  potential  areas.  The  details  of  the  physical  and  financial achievements  under  these  schemes  during  the  last  three  years  are  provided  in Annexure II.

- (c): The  details  of  coconut  nurseries,  demonstration  plots  and  Companies supported  in  Tamil  Nadu  along  with  their  impact  on  small  and  marginal  coconut growers are provided in Annexure III
- (d): The  Friends  of  Coconut  Tree  (FoCT)  and  CocoMitra  programmes  aim  to address labour shortages in coconut harvesting by training skilled coconut climbers. Under the FoCT programme, training has been conducted in Tamil Nadu during the last three years, benefiting 320 coconut climbers.The year-wise details are:
- (e): The steps being taken to strengthen pest  and disease management, value addition units and market linkages to further improve coconut farmers ' livelihoods in Tamil Nadu ae tabulated as under:
-  Pest  and  Disease  management:  Coconut  Development  Board  (CDB)  is implementing the scheme 'Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens 'by extending financial assistance to enhance the productivity and production of  coconut  by  removal  of  disease  advanced,  unproductive,  old  and  senile palms, replanting with quality seedlings and rejuvenating the remaining palms through integrated management  practices including pest and disease control. During the last three years Rs. 4178.46 lakh has been utilized in Tamil Nadu covering 8888.88 hectares.

| Financial Year   |   No. of Beneficiaries |
|------------------|------------------------|
| 2022-2023        |                    140 |
| 2023-2024        |                    100 |
| 2024-2025        |                     80 |
| Total            |                    320 |

In addition, the Laying out of Demonstration Plots (LoDP) scheme-renamed Productivity Improvement through Coconut-based Cropping Systems (PICCS) from 2025-26 has covered 8724.60 hectares with financial assistance of Rs 1866.27  lakh  for  demonstrating  improved  cultivation  and  integrated  farming technologies.

-  Value addition: During the last three years, 13 coconut processing units have been  established  under  the  Technology  Mission  on  Coconut  (TMOC)  with sanctioned assistance of Rs 406.92 lakh. These units produce value-added products  such  as  Virgin  Coconut  Oil,  Desiccated  Coconut,  Neera,  Packed Tender Coconut Water, Shell Charcoal and Activated Carbon.
-  Market linkages: Under the scheme Market Intelligence & Research, Statistics, Product and Brand Promotion and Export Promotion Services, CDB under M/o Agriculture & Farmers Welfare undertakes export promotion activities such as export excellence awards, organizing seminars/workshops for entrepreneurs and exporters, setting up of Coconut Pavilions in major National/International fairs and buyer-seller meets. In the last three years, the Board facilitated a total of 11 entrepreneurs/exporters from Tamilnadu (4 entrepreneurs/exporters for participation in National Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets & 7 for participation in domestic/international trade fairs). The International Coco Health Conference (2025) was also organised at Coimbatore in collaboration with the International  Coconut  Community,  with  150  physical  and  over  50  virtual participants to deepen market linkage.

## SCHEMES OF COCONUT DEVELOPMENT BOARD

## 1. Production of Quality Planting Material

-  Demonstration-cum-Seed Production (DSP) Farms: CDB supports setting up of new DSP farms as well as maintenance of existing DSP farms. 11 farms established by CDB, including one at Dhali, Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu.
-  Public Sector Nurseries: Assistance of 50% of the seedling production cost @ ₹ 20 per seedling for producing quality coconut seedlings.
-  Establishment of Nucleus Coconut Seed Gardens: 50% financial assistance (i.e ₹ 3.60 lakh per hectare) in 3 installments i.e 50:25:25 for a maximum of 4 hectares per unit on project basis.

## 2. For Establishment of Quality Nurseries

-  Establishment of Small Coconut Nurseries :-  Assistance  up  to  Rs  90  per seedling (covering 100% of the cost  for public sector and 50% for private sector nurseries).
-  Accreditation and Rating of Nurseries: Financial assistance up to Rs 1.5 lakh for nurseries producing a minimum of  20,000 seedlings annually.

## 3. For Expansion of Area under Coconut Cultivation

-  Financial assistance @ Rs 56,000 per hectare in 2 equal annual installments for  new  coconut  plantations  (minimum  0.08  ha  and  maximum  2  ha  per beneficiary).

## 4. Integrated Farming and Productivity Improvement

-  Productivity  Improvement  through  Coconut-Based  Cropping  Systems (PICCS): To enhance the productivity and income of coconut farmers through an integrated farming approach , 100% financial assistance up to Rs 42,000 per hectare, limited to 2 hectares per beneficiary is provided in two equal annual installments.
-  Creation of Water Resources in Coconut Gardens: (i) By individual farmer and  (ii)  On  community  basis-  Support  as  per  National  Horticulture  Mission norms.
-  Adoption  of  Organic  Farming  and  Certification: Implemented  under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) .
-  Farm  Mechanisation: Assistance  as  per Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) .

## 5. Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens

-  Total assistance up to Rs 54,000 per hectare over two years, including:
- o Cutting and Removal of Senile/Diseased palms - Rs. 1,000 per palm, subject to a maximum of Rs. 32,000/ha ( 32 palms per hectare) ,
- o Rejuvenation of existing  palms -Rs.17,500/ha in 2 annual installments of Rs 8750/- each ,
- o Replanting -@ 50% cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 4,500/ha (Rs 45/per seedling) .

## 6. Value Addition and Processing

-  Market Intelligence& Research, Product and Brand Promotion and Export servicesComprehensive schemes for market promotion, expansion of market access,  improvement  in  product  quality,  creation  of  new  opportunities  for farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, and exporters and market promotion.
-  Under the Technology Mission on Coconut (TMOC) , projects for processing, product diversification are funded up to Rs. 100 lakh to Public institutions. The adoption projects are incentivized through back-ended capital subsidies of 25% in general areas and 50% in high-cost areas, with a maximum cap of Rs.500 lakh.

Projects  on  development  and  demonstration  of  technologies  for  Pest  and Disease Management. Public institutions conducting R&D or demonstrations in pest/disease control  are  eligible for  100% funding  up  to  Rs.  500  lakh,  while adoption of such technologies is subsidized at 25% of the project cost

7. Capacity Building, Training and Awareness Programmes and Information TechnologyTraining,  skill  development,  awareness  programmes,  and  IT initiatives for stakeholders.

## 8. Social Security

-  Coconut Palm Insurance Schemes: To safeguard both coconut palms and the workers engaged in coconut sector activities, thereby ensuring comprehensive risk coverage for the crop as well as the livelihood of workers.
-  Kerasuraksha  Insurance  Scheme  A  comprehensive  group  personal accident  insurance  Scheme  for  safeguarding  the  livelihoods  of  workers engaged  in  the  coconut  sector.  Annual  premium  is  Rs  956/-  and  is  shared between Board and the beneficiary in the ratio of 85:15. Premium share to be borne by the applicant is Rs 143/-.

ANNEXURE II Achievement in Replanting & Rejuvenation (R&R) and Area under Expansion

(AEP) schemes during last 3 years in Tamil Nadu:-

| Sl. No   | Schemes                                              | 2022-23       | 2022-23             | 2023-24       | 2023-24             | 2024-25       | 2024-25             | Total         | Total               |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------|---------------------|
|          |                                                      | Physical (ha) | Financial (lakh Rs) | Physical (ha) | Financial (lakh Rs) | Physical (ha) | Financial (lakh Rs) | Physical (ha) | Financial (lakh Rs) |
| 1        | Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens (R&R) | 1850.00       | 922.41              | 3000.00       | 1448.65             | 4038.88       | 1807.40             | 8888.88       | 4178.46             |
| 2        | Expansion of Area under Coconut (AEP)                | 897.23        | 142.78              | 504.68        | 48.91               | 422.81        | 29.20               | 1824.72       | 220.89              |
|          | Total                                                | 2747.23       | 1065.19             | 3504.68       | 1497.56             | 4461.69       | 1836.60             | 10713.60      | 4399.35             |

Annexure III Details of coconut nurseries, demonstration plots and Companies supported in

## Tamil Nadu:-

| Category                 | Details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Impact                                                                                                                       |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Coconut Nurseries        | During the last three years, CDB assisted 5 small coconut nurseries with financial assistance of Rs 11.49 lakh. In addition, 56 Regional Coconut Nurseries were supported for producing 28.75 lakh quality coconut seedlings, with Rs 459.67 lakh provided to public sector agencies (2022 - 23 to 2024 - 25). | Ensured the availability of quality coconut seedlings to farmers in the State.                                               |
| Demonstration plots      | 5135 beneficiary demonstration plots were covered under the scheme 'Laying out Demonstration Plots ' in an area of 8724.60 ha, with Rs 1866.27 lakh financial assistance during the last three years.                                                                                                          | Demonstrated integrated management practices and scientific coconut cultivation in the fields of small and marginal farmers. |
| Coconut Producer Company | Coconut Farmers Clusters covering 1832.69 ha have been selected under 8 Coconut Producer Companies under the PICCS scheme in Tamil Nadu during 2025 - 26. Additionally, 1 Coconut Producer Company was assisted under TMOC to establish a Neera processing and packing unit at Palladam, Tamil Nadu.           | Benefited 2561 small and marginal coconut growers through cluster-based scientific coconut cultivation during 2025 - 26.     |

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