CHENNAI: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that the Coconut Development Board has reached out to state governments across the country, proposing inclusion of coconut oil in the public distribution system.
Briefing the media after a stakeholder meeting with coconut farmers and industry representatives here, the minister said that replacing other oils with coconut oil in the public distribution system will not only provide a stable market and better prices to farmers but will also provide healthier food options to consumers.
“Coconut oil should be made available in PDS instead of other oils. If we promote coconut oil in PDS, it will benefit farmers. The Coconut Development Board has written to all state governments with this request. We will discuss this matter further with the state governments,” the minister said.
Chouhan announced that the central government is in the final stages of formulating a dedicated coconut promotion plan aimed at addressing long-standing farmers’ grievances. He noted that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had initially announced the scheme in the Budget, but the government decided to finalize its parameters only after direct consultations with farmers from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha and other producing states to ensure that the solutions were grounded in reality.
Addressing the technical challenges in the sector, Chauhan stressed that many coconut farms are over 60 years old, which leads to a significant decline in productivity and lack of resistance to diseases. He said the new scheme will focus on introducing high-yielding varieties that can withstand climate change and control pests such as whitefly and root wilt.
The Minister stressed the necessity of biological control of diseases instead of chemical methods, as biological control preserves the value of exports and ensures high market prices for the product.
He also called for a zero-waste approach to the coconut crop, which is traditionally seen as kulpavriksh, where every part of the tree is useful. He suggested that farmers adopt integrated agricultural models by exploiting the vacant space between coconut trees to plant with cocoa or pepper, as well as engaging in animal husbandry and fisheries to diversify their sources of income.
To support this, he stated that the government aims to promote mechanization and form farmer-producer organizations to reduce production costs and improve value addition.
During the interaction, Chouhan also touched on the condition of other cash crops in the region, including cashew nuts, coffee, cocoa and sandalwood.
He expressed concern over the decline in sandalwood cultivation area in Tamil Nadu and assured that the government will take steps to boost these crops by addressing issues related to productivity and disease management from this year.
On the sidelines of the agricultural discussion, the Union Minister raised concerns over the implementation of central welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu. He claimed that nearly two lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for 2024-25 are yet to be approved by the state and pointed out that the new housing survey conducted across the country in 2024 has not been implemented in Tamil Nadu.
He also urged the state government to address nearly three complaints received regarding the implementation of MGNREGA to ensure that funds are not wasted.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
