3.2

Title:

Coconut Development Board

Type:

Central Sector

Objectives:

To increase production and productivity of coconut
To bring additional area under coconut in potential  non-traditional areas
To develop new technologies for product  diversification and by-product utilisation
To strengthen mechanism for transfer of technologies
To elevate the income level of small and marginal farmers engaged in coconut cultivation.
To build up sound information basis for coconut industry and market information
To generate ample employment opportunities in the rural sector.

Salient Features:

    The scheme provides for production and distribution of quality planting material, expansion of area under coconut, integrated farming practices for productivity improvement, technology demonstration, market promotion and human resource development.

Pattern of Assistance

Production and Distribution of Planting Materials

·    Establishment of Demonstration cum Seed Production (DSP) Farms for coconut.

·    Setting up of coconut nurseries attached to the DSP Farms.

·    Establishment of Regional Coconut Nurseries.

·    Aid to registered / private / approved coconut nurseries @ Rs.6 lakhs for a big and Rs.2 lakhs for a small unit.

 

(II)      Expansion of Area under Coconut
          New planting assistance @ Rs.8,000 per hectare in 2 annual installments

 (III)     Integrated Farming for Productivity Improvement

·    Removal of disease advanced palms by providing compensation of Rs. 250/- per palm

·    Laying out demonstration plots in farmers’ garden @ Rs.35,000 per ha.

·    Aid to organic manure units @ Rs.20,000 per unit.

(IV)    Technology Demonstration

·    Financial assistance for setting up of pilot plants for the integrated coconut processing @ 50% of the cost of building / plant / machinery or maximum Rs.5 lakhs.

·    Aid to technological research

·    Financial assistance to coconut based industries @ 25% of the cost of building / plant / machinery or Rs.2.50 lakhs whichever is less.

·    Financial assistance for the introduction of Agmark/ISO Standards in coconut processing units @ 25% of the cost of laboratory equipments or Rs.1 lakh whichever is less.

·    Techno-economic studies on product diversification and byproduct utilization.

·    Consultancy service on production, processing and marketing.

(V)     Market Promotion and Statistics

·    Market information and intelligence service.

·    Modernisation of coconut processing by introduction of improved copra dryer / other processing machineries / equipment @ 25% of the cost of dryer / equipment or maximum Rs.10,000, whichever is less.

·    Surveys and evaluation studies.

(VI)    Information and Information Technology

·    Production of publications in different languages including grant-in-aid to State Government / Universities for production of publications.

·    Production and screening of films including grant-in-aid to State Govt./Universities for production of films.

·    Participation in exhibitions and fairs.

·    Conducting seminars and workshops.

·    Awards to best growers, master craftsmen, industrialists, processors and exporters.

·    Training youths in harvesting and plant protection.

·    Training farmers in scientific cultivation and post harvest processing.

·    Training in the manufacture of coconut based handicrafts.

·    National award to the best research worker or workers in product/ machinery / equipment development.

·    Establishment of National Information Centre cum Electronic Data Processing Unit.

(VII)   Human Resources Development

·    Training to improve technical skills of managerial and supervisory personnel of the Coconut Development Board and the Dept. of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India.

·    Training and visits to understand and appraise the technologies.

Eligibility

All farmers

Procedure to apply:

Through State Governments

Person to be contacted:

Chairman, Coconut Development Board, Kochi.

Date of Start/duration:

IX Plan, with effect from 1999-2000 till 2001-02

Implementation status:

Ongoing