(a) whether the Government have decided to form a Coconut Technology Mission;
(b) the details of the aims and objectives thereof;
(c) the total funds required and amount already allocated for this project; and
(d) the present status of the project and the time by which it is likely to be completed?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) & (b): Govt. of India has agreed to implement a Central Sector Scheme for Technology Mission
on Coconut during 2001-2002 as part of the IX Plan, in all coconut producing states, through the Coconut
Development Board. The scheme for Technology Mission on Coconut envisages to address issues
relating to technology development, demonstrations and adoption in the field of the insect/pest and
disease management; processing and product diversification; and market research and promotion. The
aims and objectives of the scheme on Technology Mission on Coconut are :-
i). to establish convergence and synergy among numerous ongoing governmental programmes in
the field of coconut development in order to bring in horizontal and vertical integration of these
programmes;
ii). to ensure adequate, appropriate, timely and concurrent attention to all the links in the production,
post harvest and consumption chain;
iii). to maximize economic, ecological and social benefits from the existing investment and
infrastructure created for coconut development;
iv). to promote economically desirable diversification and value addition to generate skilled
employment; and
v). to disseminate technologies using participatory approach through demonstration and promotion
to address the gaps in the mission mode.
(c): The total funds required for implementing the scheme during last three months of the year
2001-2002 is Rs.400.00 lakh. Accordingly Rs.400.00 lakh has been earmarked for the purpose. It is
proposed to implement the scheme during X Plan also. For the year 2002-2003 an outlay of Rs.2000.00
lakh has been proposed.
(d): The Project Approval Committee to sanction projects under the scheme has been constituted.
The Coconut Development Board has already initiated preliminary necessary action and released the
`Operational Guidelines` to implement the scheme. Before projects are sanctioned under the scheme
and funds released, approval of token supplementary in the last batch of supplementary grant is required,
as the scheme attracts provision of New Service. Ministry of Finance, however, has approved the
proposal in principle.