Chouhan Calls for Production Boost in Coconut Farming

• Shivraj Singh Chouhan holds post-Budget meeting with coconut farmers in Chennai
• Government to promote production, processing and intercropping in coconut sector
• Focus on disease-resistant varieties and modern processing facilities
• Around 1.25 crore farmers linked to coconut cultivation across India

GG News Bureau
Chennai, 8th March: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday held a post-Budget consultation with coconut farmers, scientists and agricultural experts in Chennai to discuss ways to strengthen the coconut sector and improve farmers’ income.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the coconut industry to deliberate on challenges faced by farmers and explore policy measures aimed at boosting production, productivity and value addition.

Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said Tamil Nadu remains one of the major centres of coconut production in the country and plays a crucial role in the sector’s growth.

He noted that nearly 1.25 crore farmers across India are associated with coconut cultivation, while the livelihoods of around 3 crore people depend on the coconut economy.

The Union Minister highlighted that several challenges are currently affecting the sector, including declining productivity in ageing plantations and diseases such as root wilt and white fly.

Many coconut plantations in the country are nearly 60 years old, which has led to reduced yields, he said, adding that innovative solutions and coordinated efforts are needed to address these issues.

Chouhan said the government will focus on developing advanced and disease-resistant coconut varieties to improve both productivity and quality, enabling India to strengthen its position in the global coconut market.

He emphasised that the government is working closely with farmers, scientists and experts to develop practical and effective solutions for the sector.

Under the Coconut Promotion Scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government will encourage production, processing and intercropping alongside coconut cultivation to enhance farmers’ income.

Intercropping, he said, can significantly improve farm economics by providing farmers with additional income sources.

The Minister also outlined plans to replace ageing plantations with new orchards, establish high-quality nurseries, expand modern processing infrastructure and promote value-added coconut products.

Chouhan said discussions with farmers and state governments are ongoing to finalise the framework for the proposed Coconut Promotion Board, which will provide institutional support for the sector’s development.

He expressed confidence that the initiative will benefit coconut farmers across the country, noting that around 28 percent of farmers in Tamil Nadu are expected to gain from the proposed measures.

During the interaction, the Minister also highlighted India’s linguistic diversity and encouraged participants to communicate in their mother tongues, suggesting that translators could be used if necessary to facilitate discussions.