Naidu writes to Centre for Integrated Coconut Development Programme

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking the Centre’s support for launching an Integrated Coconut Development Programme to strengthen the coconut sector and enhance farmer incomes. In his letter dated December 16, he noted that Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading coconut-producing States in India, standing fourth in cultivation with 1.08 lakh hectares, 1,735 million nuts in production and the highest productivity in the country at 16,000 nuts per hectare. Requesting ₹200 crore in Central assistance for the State’s Integrated Coconut Development and Market Strengthening Programme, he noted that coconut farming is a crucial source of income for lakhs of small and marginal farmers, especially in coastal and semi-coastal regions. The programme would directly benefit coconut farmers by increasing farm-gate prices from ₹11 to ₹15 per nut to ₹35 to ₹40, reducing climate and pest-related losses by 20% to 25%, creating 15,000 rural jobs and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leading national hub for tender coconut and value-added coconut products, he said. Highlighting the need for value addition, the Chief Minister advocated the establishment of coconut-based processing units such as virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, coir products, fibre-based units and activated carbon facilities. Cluster-level processing infrastructure, he said, would generate substantial rural employment while ensuring better price realisation for farmers. The proposal also calls for robust marketing and price support mechanisms, including improved procurement systems, market intelligence, branding and promotion of coconut products in domestic and international markets. It underscores the role of Farmer Producer Organisations in aggregating produce and enhancing farmers’ bargaining power. Mr. Naidu further sought financial assistance and subsidies for plantation development, drip irrigation, mechanisation, intercropping and post-harvest infrastructure, while stressing climate-resilient practices to mitigate risks from droughts and cyclones. “The Union government is requested to consider a national-level initiative to drive sustainable growth in the coconut sector,” he said. Published - December 27, 2025 06:55 pm IST

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