INDIA, September 2, 2016, (Press Information Bureau): Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today addressed the farmers on World Coconut Day and National Award presentation ceremony in Bhubaneswar. On the occasion the Minister said that India is a leading country in coconut production and productivity in the world. Its annual coconut production is 306 million coconut from 4.9 million acre area and the productivity per 2.5 acres is 10,345 coconuts. The contribution of coconut in country’s GDP is about US$3 billion. In 2015-16 coconut products of $217 million value have been exported. He also said that over ten million people are dependent on coconut crop for their livelihood.
Agriculture Minister said the Coconut Development Board has established 402 coconut processing units in India which process 2.42 billion coconut per year.