India leads global coconut production, centre announces promotion scheme
India continues to lead global coconut production, contributing over 30 per cent to the world’s total output, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary said India accounts for around 30.37 per cent of global coconut production. Coconut cultivation in the country spans about 21.65 lakh hectares, with an annual production of nearly 21,373 million nuts.
The average productivity stands at around 9,871 nuts per hectare, underlining the crop’s role in India’s agricultural output. The sector supports the livelihoods of nearly 30 million people, including around 10 million farmers.
To further strengthen the sector, the government has announced a Coconut Promotion Scheme in the Union Budget 2026-27. The scheme aims to increase production and improve productivity through measures such as replacing old and non-productive trees with high-yielding varieties.
The initiative forms part of a broader allocation of ₹350 crore for high-value agriculture, which includes crops such as coconut, cashew, and cocoa.
The government said the scheme is currently under formulation, and details regarding state-wise fund allocation and utilisation will be finalised in due course.
