India’s Coconut Sector

India's coconut sector supports roughly 30 million people, including 10 million farmers, and ranks first globally in production, accounting for 31.24 percent of the world's total. Keralam leads in cultivation area, Tamil Nadu in production, and Andhra Pradesh in productivity. Governed primarily through the Coconut Development Board (CDB) established in 1981, the sector has transitioned from traditional exports to value-added goods like virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and activated carbon. Government support mechanisms include Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for milling and ball copra, the Coconut Promotion Scheme introduced in Union Budget 2026-27, area expansion programs, productivity improvement via multi-tier cropping, and targeted skill development initiatives such as Cocomitra and Kera Kaushal Kendra.