Why key to coconut cultivation today is sustainability, not productivity, PgII

Key Highlights:

• The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a Coconut Promotion Scheme to boost productivity by rejuvenating old coconut gardens and establishing new plantations.
• India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coconuts, with domestic prices higher than international prices despite high productivity.
• Climate change and disease are major concerns, with rising temperatures projected to impact coconut cultivation areas by 2050 and 2070.
• The scheme should prioritize developing climate-resilient and wilt-tolerant coconut varieties, particularly in vulnerable regions like the east coast and traditional west coast areas.

Detailed Insights:

• The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is already implementing a similar scheme, expanding cultivation to non-traditional areas to offset losses from disease in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Research indicates that regions in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu may become less suitable for coconut cultivation due to climate change.
• The Coconut Promotion Scheme should focus on mass multiplication of climate-resilient varieties and wilt-tolerant varieties through State horticulture departments and agricultural universities.
• Instead of distributing inputs, the State should consider direct benefit transfers to farmers, trusting them to decide on necessary improvements like irrigation and soil amendments.
• Past schemes like the Cluster Development Programme by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) faced challenges due to high investment barriers and complex compliance requirements.
• Smaller, well-designed pilot projects with marketing partnerships involving experienced FMCG players could be tested in regions like Tiptur, Anaimalai, and Pollachi.
• The scheme should focus on climate resilience, wilt resistance, trust in farmers, and honest evaluation of past failures to secure India’s leadership in coconut cultivation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Climate Resilience: The capacity of coconut varieties to withstand adverse effects of climate change.
• Wilt Resistance: The ability of coconut trees to resist root wilt disease, a major threat in traditional growing regions.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): A mechanism to transfer subsidies directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.