India's Coconut Sector and Global Growth

India's Coconut Sector: Overview and Key Highlights

Economic Significance

• Employment: Approximately 30 million people, including 10 million farmers, rely on the coconut sector.
• Global Ranking: India is the world's largest producer of coconuts, accounting for 31.24% of global production (20,301.22 million nuts from 2.19 million hectares) and ranking third in cultivation area (17.90% of global totals).
• State Contributions:
  • Keralam: Largest area under coconut cultivation (7.54 lakh hectares, 5,149.87 million nuts).
  • Tamil Nadu: Highest production.
  • Andhra Pradesh: Highest productivity.

Government Schemes and Policies

• Coconut Development Board (CDB): Established on January 12, 1981, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to oversee coconut cultivation and industry development.
• Coconut Promotion Scheme (2026-27): Aims to enhance coconut production through:
  • Large-scale quality seedling production.
  • Expansion of cultivation areas.
  • Replanting and rejuvenation of old gardens.
  • Integrated processing units for value addition.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra (2025-26):
  • Milling Copra: ₹12,027 per quintal (rise of ₹445).
  • Ball Copra: ₹12,500 per quintal (rise of ₹400).

Production and Export Data

• Coconut Exports:
  • 2025-26 exports: ₹7,038.35 crore (USD 794.70 million), a 62% increase from ₹4,349.03 crore in 2024-25.
  • Major export products include activated carbon, coconut oil, and fresh/frozen coconut.
  • Key markets: USA, UAE, Sri Lanka, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, UK, and Netherlands.

Technological and Agricultural Initiatives

• Demonstration Cum Seed Production Farms (DSPFs): Established to promote scientific coconut cultivation practices.
• Productivity Improvement Through Coconut-Based Cropping System (PICCS): Covers 18,800 hectares benefiting 48,696 farmers.
• Quality Planting Material Production:
  • Financial assistance for establishing seed gardens and nurseries.
  • 2.41 lakh quality seedlings produced in DSPFs during 2025-26.

Skill Development and Training

• Friends of Coconut Tree (FoCT): Trains unemployed youth in coconut palm climbing and entrepreneurship.
• Kera Kaushal Kendra: Establishes handicraft centers for coconut product manufacturing.
• Neera Tapping Training: Provides structured training for safe coconut juice tapping.

Environmental and Sustainability Efforts

• Integrated Farming Practices: Promotes sustainable practices and addresses pest outbreaks through technology adoption.
• Water Resource Creation: Supports irrigation facilities in coconut gardens via community tanks and farm ponds.

Future Vision

• The Coconut Promotion Scheme aims to position India as a global leader in coconut and coir exports by the 2030s, with a broader allocation of ₹350 crore for high-value agriculture.

Conclusion

India’s coconut sector is a vital component of rural livelihoods, contributing significantly to the economy and cultural heritage. With robust government support and evolving practices, the sector is poised for sustainable growth and increased global competitiveness.