COCONUT PROMOTION SCHEME

NEWS: ‘Coconut Promotion Scheme’ announced in the Union Budget 2026-27- future of coconut cultivation in India depends more on sustainability, climate resilience, and disease resistance

Objective of the Scheme

• To improve productivity of coconut cultivation
• By:
  • Rejuvenating old and non-productive coconut gardens
  • Planting high-yielding coconut varieties
  • Expanding plantations along coastal areas

Existing Institutional Support

• The Coconut Development Board (CDB)–> already implementing similar schemes.
• These schemes helped: Rejuvenate old gardens, Expand cultivation to nontraditional regions–>Gujarat, Assam, Other non-peninsular regions

India’s Position in Coconut Cultivation

• India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coconuts.
• Productivity per palm in India is already higher than Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Indonesia.
• Example: Dwarf × Tall hybrid palms can produce 250–300 tender coconuts per tree.

Major Challenges

According to Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI):

• Temperature may rise by: 1.6–2.1°C by 2050, Up to 3.2°C by 2070
• Higher temperature increases: Vapour pressure deficit, Drought stress
  • Many regions (interior peninsular India, east coast) may become less
• Disease Threat –>Kerala (Alappuzha), Pollachi (Tamil Nadu)–>Severely affected by root wilt disease

WAY AHEAD

• The scheme should –>prioritise:
  • Climate-resilient varieties (for east coast & peninsular regions)
  • Wilt-tolerant varieties (for west coast coconut belts)
• Strengthen research in:
  • CPCRI (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute)
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
• Focus on breeding: Heat-tolerant varieties, drought-resilient genotypes