Coconut Development Board Launches Revised Schemes

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) celebrated World Coconut Day at the Adlux Convention Centre, Angamaly, Kerala, by launching newly revised schemes and presenting the Export Excellence Awards.

M.K. Raghavan, MP and member of CDB Board, emphasized the necessity for efforts in product diversification and processing in coconut. He called upon the farmers to make use of government schemes for productivity and production improvement, as Kerala, which was at one point a pioneer in coconut farming, was now behind.

Prabhat Kumar, CEO of CDB, announced enhanced subsidies under revised cost norms. The subsidy for the Area Expansion Programme has been raised from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 56,000 per hectare, while that for seedling production has been increased from Rs. 8 to Rs. 45. He emphasized integrated efforts in production, processing, marketing, and exports for the sector’s growth.

CDB Chairman Suba Nagarajan highlighted the higher budget allocation for schemes supporting integrated development of coconut cultivation and reiterated the Board's commitment to a climate-resilient coconut economy through revised schemes, value addition, and skill development.

The Export Excellence Awards, instituted by the Coconut Development Board to honour outstanding performance in the coconut industry, were presented during the event. Awards were given across categories including shell-based, kernel-based, and water-based products, as well as special recognition for women exporters and farmer producer organizations. CDB also released several publications, including improved cultivation technologies and revised scheme guidelines, in English and Hindi.