SEP 02: The Coconut Development Board (CDB) celebrated World Coconut Day 2025 at the Adlux Convention Centre, Angamaly, Kerala, with the launch of revised schemes and the presentation of the Export Excellence Awards.
Addressing the gathering, Shri M.K. Raghavan, MP and CDB Board Member, highlighted the urgent need for processing and product diversification in the coconut sector. He urged farmers, particularly in Kerala, to adopt focused efforts to enhance production and productivity. Despite being a traditional leader in coconut cultivation, Kerala has fallen behind in recent years, he noted, encouraging farmers to work towards regaining their earlier prominence.
CDB CEO, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, outlined the major changes under the revised cost norms. The subsidy for Area Expansion Programme has been significantly increased from ₹6,500 per hectare to ₹56,000, while the subsidy for seedling production has been raised from ₹8 to ₹45. He stressed that integrated initiatives in production, processing, marketing, and exports are vital for ensuring long-term growth and profitability for farmers.
CDB Chairman, Shri Suba Nagarajan, reiterated the Board’s commitment to building a climate-resilient coconut economy through value addition, skill development, and expanded financial support. He said that the enhanced budget allocation for schemes reflects the government’s focus on the integrated development of the coconut sector.
The event also recognized outstanding contributions to the industry with the Export Excellence Awards. Companies from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra were honored across categories including shell-based, kernel-based, and water-based coconut products. Awards were also given to women entrepreneurs and farmer producer organizations (FPOs).
On the occasion, CDB also released several publications, including Improved Coconut Cultivation Technologies and updated CDB Schemes booklets in English and Hindi, further supporting farmers with updated resources.
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