Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted a detailed post-Budget meeting in Chennai with coconut farmers, scientists, agricultural experts, and stakeholders to address challenges and enhance India’s coconut industry and farmers’ incomes.
During the consultation, discussions centered on the obstacles faced by coconut growers, strategies to boost productivity, encourage value addition, and create more opportunities for those engaged in coconut farming.
Chouhan emphasized the significance of Tamil Nadu as a major coconut-producing region in India. He highlighted that approximately 1.25 crore farmers are directly engaged in coconut cultivation across the country, with the livelihoods of about 3 crore people dependent on the sector.
The Minister acknowledged the existing challenges affecting coconut farmers, including aging plantations and issues like root wilt and whitefly infestations that impact production. He outlined plans by the Union government to collaborate with farmers, scientists, and policy experts to address these challenges effectively.
