**Executive Summary**
This document provides answers to questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the impact of Kerala Root Wilt Disease on coconut plantations in Tamil Nadu. It outlines government measures and insurance schemes for coconut farmers. The questions were raised on December 16th, 2025, concerning the disease's prevalence, existing insurance coverage, and proposed interventions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Kerala Root Wilt Disease:**
* The government is aware of the incidence of the disease in coconut plantations in Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Theni, and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu since 1980.
* Disease incidence reported from Coimbatore district is about 15%-19%.
* **Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme:**
* The Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the Coconut Development Board (CDB), Agriculture Insurance Company of India, and the concerned State Governments in major coconut growing states.
* **Premiums and Shares:** The government provides subsidies. The premium is shared between the CDB, State Government and Farmer. The details are below:
* Palms 4-15 years: Sum Assured per palm(Rs) is Rs. 900.00; Premium per palm (Rs) Rs. 9.00; CDB Share per Palm (Rs) Rs 4.50; State Share Per palm (Rs) Rs. 2.25; Farmer Share per palm (Rs) Rs. 2.25.
* Palms 16-60 years: Sum Assured per palm(Rs) is Rs. 1750.00; Premium per palm (Rs) Rs. 14.00; CDB Share per Palm (Rs) Rs 7.00; State Share Per palm (Rs) Rs. 3.50; Farmer Share per palm (Rs) Rs. 3.50.
* In Tamil Nadu, 446 farmers have been insured under the scheme, and total claims of Rs. 1,16,678/- has been paid to the 12 farmers.
* **Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS):**
* RWBCIS, a weather index based scheme, is available to provide financial support to farmers suffering from crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities.
* Coconut plantation is covered under RWBCIS, but the State Government of Tamil Nadu has not implemented the scheme for the last five years.
* **Disease Surveillance and Management:**
* The Ministry conducts regular surveys through its 47 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) to assess pest situations and promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.
* CIPMC in Trichy and Coconut Research Station-Aliyarnagar (TNAU) systematically monitor the spread of the root (wilt) disease.
* An expert committee was formed to address issues and evolve management strategies with a special focus on root (wilt) disease.
* Mapping of the root (wilt) affected areas in Tamil Nadu is completed, and measures are taken for containment and eradication of the disease.
* **Replanting and Rejuvenation Scheme:**
* The CDB implemented the scheme in an area of 27361.61 ha, utilizing Rs. 134.86 crores over the last 10 years.
* The CDB has also assisted in the production of 65.81 lakh seedlings using State Government infrastructure.
* During the year 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 38.98 crores has been allocated for various schemes in Tamil Nadu.
**Impact Analysis**
**Coconut Farmers in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Affected by Kerala Root Wilt Disease, potentially leading to reduced coconut yields and income.
* **Action Required:** Explore and utilize insurance schemes like the Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme and RWBCIS (if implemented by the State Government). Implement recommended IPM techniques and management strategies for disease containment.
**State Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Responsible for collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, CDB, and Agriculture Insurance Company of India in implementing the Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Consider implementing RWBCIS to provide additional financial support to farmers. Facilitate the distribution of quality coconut seedlings and support disease surveillance and management efforts.
**Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Coconut Development Board (CDB)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme, disease surveillance, and various schemes for improving coconut production.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring the spread of Kerala Root Wilt Disease, providing support and resources to affected farmers and the State Government of Tamil Nadu. Ensure the effective implementation of insurance schemes and other interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the issue of Kerala Root Wilt Disease in coconut plantations.
Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme: A crop insurance scheme aimed at protecting coconut palms from natural disasters and other perils.
Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS): A weather index-based insurance scheme to provide financial support to farmers suffering from crop loss or damage due to natural calamities.
Coconut Development Board (CDB): An organization implementing crop insurance schemes and other interventions to address coconut plantation issues.
Tamil Nadu: The primary location affected by the Kerala Root Wilt Disease in coconut plantations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2593
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
COCONUT PLANTATIONS AFFECTED BY KERALA ROOT WILT DISEASE
2593. SHRI ESWARASAMY K :
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the severe outbreak of Kerala Root Wilt Disease
affecting coconut plantations in parts of Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof, including the
extent of affected area and estimated losses;
(b) whether the Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme or any other crop insurance scheme is
being implemented, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of beneficiaries covered, claims settled, and total funds disbursed during the
last five years under the Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme, State-wise and year-wise;
(d) whether any proposal has been considered by the Union Government to strengthen
disease surveillance, provide financial relief and promote resistant coconut varieties in
affected regions; and
(e) If not, the reason therefor and the timeline by which the Government intends to
introduce such interventions to safeguard coconut farmers’ livelihood?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): Yes, the Government of India is aware about the incidence of Kerala Root Wilt
Disease affecting coconut plantations in parts of Tamil Nadu. Root wilt disease of coconut
is a non-lethal debilitating malady in Kanyakumari (Rajakkamangalam,Thiruvattar,
Kurunthancode blocks), Tenkasi (Tenkasi, Kadayanallur, Kadayam, Shencottah blocks),
Theni (Cumbum, Uthamapalayam blocks) and Coimbatore (Pollachi North, Pollachi South,
and Anaimalai blocks) districts in Tamil Nadu. About 15%-19% disease incidence was
reported from Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu and the disease is known to the region since
1980.(b) & (c): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through Coconut
Development Board (CDB) in association with State Government and Agriculture Insurance
Company of India, is implementing crop Insurance scheme for coconut palms - Coconut
Palm Insurance Scheme, to insure coconut palms against natural and other perils with a
view to compensate the farmer in case of loss/death of palms.
The scheme is being implemented in major coconut growing states through Agriculture
Insurance Company and concerned State Governments provisions furnish are as under:
CDB State
Sum
Palms Premium Share Share Farmer
Assured
under per palm per Per palm Share per
per
age (Rs) Palm (Rs) palm (Rs)
palm(Rs)
group (Rs)
4 -15 Rs 4.50
Rs. 900.00 Rs. 9.00 Rs. 2.25 Rs. 2.25
years
16- 60 Rs 7.00
Rs. 1750.00 Rs. 14.00 Rs. 3.50 Rs. 3.50
years
Under the scheme, in Tamil Nadu, in the last five years, 446 farmers have been
insured and total claim of Rs. 1,16,678/- has been paid to the 12 farmers.
Further, a weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
(RWBCIS) from kharif 2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering from crop
loss/damage arising out of natural calamities, adverse weather incidence and to stabilize
the income of farmers etc. It is mentioned that coconut plantation is covered under
RWBCIS but State Government of Tamil Nadu is not implementing the scheme (RWBCIS)
from last five years.
(d) & (e): Yes, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its 47 Central
Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) & Locust-cum-CIPMCs (LCIPMCs) across
the country, conducts regular survey to assess the pest situation, promotes Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) techniques to prevent non-judicious use of chemical pesticides. The
CIPMC in Trichy, Coconut Research Station-Aliyarnagar (TNAU), a coordinating centre
under All India Coordinated Research Project on Plantation Crops, ICAR- CPCRI are
systematically monitoring the spread of the root (wilt) disease to ensure early detection and
appropriate management in Tamil Nadu.
Further, an expert Committee comprising of members from CDB, ICAR-CPCRI, Dept.
of Horticulture and Plantation Crops-Govt. of Tamil Nadu, ICAR-National Bureau of
Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR),Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) was
formed to address the issues in coconut production sector and to evolve management
strategies with special focus on root (wilt) disease in Tamil Nadu. As recommended by the
expert Committee,mapping of the root (wilt) affected areas in Tamil Nadu is completed and
measures taken for containment and eradication of the disease. CDB implemented thescheme - Replanting and Rejuvenation in an area of 27361.61 ha by utilizing Rs.134.86
crores during the last 10 years.
CDB established one of its farm in Dhali village, Udumelpet in Tiruppur District, Tamil
Nadu for ensuring production and distribution of quality coconut seedlings to farmers.
During the last 10 years, 7.34 lakh seedlings were produced and distributed to farming
community in Tamil Nadu. CDB has also assisted for production of 65.81 lakh seedlings by
utilizing the existing infrastructure available with the State Government.
During the year 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 38.98 crores has been allocated for
various schemes in Tamil Nadu of which an amount of Rs. 12.91 Crores was allocated for
implementing the scheme-Productivity Improvement through Coconut Based Cropping
System in 5000 ha and Rs.15.20 crores for implementing Replanting and Rejuvenation
scheme in 2000 ha, Rs.6.85 crores for Expansion of Area under Coconut and Rs. 4.02
crores has been allocated for implementing other on-going schemes of the Board.
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