Kochi : 29 February 2024

Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India declared National Awards for Export Excellence in coconut at NIANP Auditorium, Bangalore on 29 th February 2024. Addressing the Awardees, the Hon’ble Minister reiterated that we should improve technology/marketing capability and also encourage young generation for good technology in coconut sector. She congratulated the excellent achievers in coconut and appreciated the Board for taking the efforts in distributing the National Awards for Excellence in Export Performance. While mentioning about the government support for the farmers, she informed that subsidies from Horticulture/Agriculture Departments, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Jojana etc are not being utilized properly for the benefit of farmers and Stake Holders. Now a day’s Horticulture/Agriculture Departments are doing export through concerned Industrial Departments. They are promoting industrial products rather than agricultural products. In order to improvise the export she requested the State/Agriculture/Horticulture Departments to sit with APEDA and DGFT to make a separate cell for Agriculture/Horticulture products export. APEDA has a list of products as per the requirement from various countries across the globe. Accordingly State/Agri/Hort Departments can identify the requirements from each country and promote the required agriculture commodity from the concerned state. Advancement in technology and innovation are opening up new avenues for value addition and product diversification. Value addition is the need of the hour to double the farmer’s income which will open up new avenues. She pointed out the vegan food system in European and American countries wherein they are preferring coconut milk than soya milk.

Dr. Prabhat Kumar, CEO, CDB & Horticulture Commissioner, Govt of India in his introductory
remarks said that Coconut Development Board was notified as Export Promotion Council (EPC) for all
coconut products other than those made from coconut husk and fibre by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The total value of coconut products exported during the year 2022-23 touched Rs. 3554.23 crores. The Board plays a pivotal role in increasing production, productivity, value addition, marketing and export.

Dr. K. B. Hebbar, Director, CPCRI & Vice-Chairman, CDB congratulated the awardees and requested to use the technology assistance and financial assistance provided by CPCRI and CDB for the upliftment of the coconut sector. He also said that coconut is a promising crop in agriculture sector. He also added that we should concentrate more for climate resilience and carbon sequestration.

The award scheme, spanning over four years, encompasses 12 categories comprising of three awards under each category of gold, silver, and bronze. Total 32 awards were distributed for the period from 2019-20 to 2022-23, acknowledging excellence across different facets of coconut exports. The award comprises of prize money of Rs.1.00 lakh, Rs.0.75 Lakh and Rs.0.50 lakh respectively for gold, silver, and bronze winners with memento and citation. 

Shri. Ramesh D. S. IAS, Director of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, Dr. N. K. S. Gowda, Director, NIANP, Bangalore attended the programme as guests of honour. Dr. Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB delivered the welcome address and Smt. Deepthi Nair S, Director, CDB proposed vote of thanks. An interactive session of Award winners with State Minister was also arranged.

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