Though India is in the forefront in coconut production and productivity, the country is lagging behind in processing, value addition and exports, said Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.
Delivering the inaugural address of an awards distribution ceremony of Coconut Development Board, he said, "Our position in value addition is at 22nd and in the case of exports, it is 25th."
The share of India in world production of coconut is the highest at 26.34 per cent. World production of coconut is 64.33 billion nuts from an area of 12.26 million ha. Productivity of India is also the highest with 10,736 nuts per ha.
Winners
The minister distributed national awards of Coconut Development Board to 16 individuals/organisations who had excelled in various coconut related activities. These include BA Nagaraj and Bhagyalakshmi Farms from Bangalore district for Best Coconut Farmer at the national level. C M Mohamed of Malappuram district in Kerala and Bouribandhu Jena, Brahmagiri in Odisha got the Best Coconut Farmer in South and West region and in East & North East region respectively.
The minister distributed national awards of Coconut Development Board to 16 individuals/organisations who had excelled in various coconut related activities. These include BA Nagaraj and Bhagyalakshmi Farms from Bangalore district for Best Coconut Farmer at the national level. C M Mohamed of Malappuram district in Kerala and Bouribandhu Jena, Brahmagiri in Odisha got the Best Coconut Farmer in South and West region and in East & North East region respectively.
Others include Dr Yashi Srivasthava from Allahabad district (Best Research worker under the category of nutritional & biochemical findings from coconut) and Dr AC Mathew, Senior Scientist, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargode district, (Best Research worker under Machinery/ Equipment Development).
The award for Master craftsman in coconut based handicrafts went to NS Ashok Kumar under large category while A Pratap received the award under small category.
