Parliament Question: Initiatives by Coconut Development Board in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH 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 कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी 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 कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (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: Financial Year No. of Beneficiaries 2022-2023 140 2023-2024 100 2024-2025 80 Total 320 (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.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.ANNEXURE-I 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 services- Comprehensive 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 cost7. Capacity Building, Training and Awareness Programmes and Information Technology- Training, 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 2023-24 2024-25 Total Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial (ha) (lakh Rs) (ha) (lakh Rs) (ha) (lakh Rs) (ha) (lakh Rs) Replanting and 1850.00 922.41 3000.00 1448.65 4038.88 1807.40 8888.88 4178.46 Rejuvenation of 1 Coconut Gardens (R&R) Expansion of 897.23 142.78 504.68 48.91 422.81 29.20 1824.72 220.89 2 Area under Coconut (AEP) 2747.23 1065.19 3504.68 1497.56 4461.69 1836.60 10713.60 4399.35 TotalAnnexure III Details of coconut nurseries, demonstration plots and Companies supported in Tamil Nadu:- Category Details Impact Coconut During the last three years, CDB Ensured the availability of Nurseries assisted 5 small coconut nurseries quality coconut seedlings with financial assistance of Rs 11.49 to farmers in the State. 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). Demonstration 5135 beneficiary demonstration plots Demonstrated integrated plots were covered under the scheme management practices and scientific coconut “Laying out Demonstration Plots” in an cultivation in the fields of area of 8724.60 ha, with Rs 1866.27 small and marginal lakh financial assistance during the farmers. last three years. Coconut Coconut Farmers Clusters covering Benefited 2561 small and Producer 1832.69 ha have been selected under marginal coconut growers Company 8 Coconut Producer Companies through cluster-based under the PICCS scheme in Tamil scientific coconut Nadu during 2025–26. Additionally, 1 cultivation during 2025– Coconut Producer Company was 26. assisted under TMOC to establish a Neera processing and packing unit at Palladam, Tamil Nadu. *******