Union Agriculture Minister Proposes Including Coconut Oil in PDS, Announces Promotion Scheme

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the Coconut Development Board has written to state governments proposing the inclusion of coconut oil in the Public Distribution System (PDS) to benefit farmers and consumers. The government is finalizing a Coconut Promotion Scheme after consultations with farmers from key producing states. The scheme aims to address aging plantations, introduce high-yielding varieties resistant to pests and climate change, promote biological disease control, and encourage integrated farming to diversify farmer incomes.