Hindsight and Foresight of the Indian Coconut Sector: Facets of Research, Trade, Food Security and Nutritional Security

The article has examined various facets of coconut sector like economic importance, food, livelihood and nutritional security, trade impediments and nuances of the existing sectoral innovation system of coconut in India. Based on secondary data, the study has revealed that India produced 20 thousand million nuts in the year 2015. Since coconut is largely cultivated in small and marginal holdings, it neither provides livelihood security nor income security for the households throughout the year. Presently, the coconut growers are more exposed to economic risks and uncertainties owing to the high degree of price fluctuations. In this context, the study has suggested crop diversification in coconut gardens. To ensure livelihood security, the study has suggested strengthening of the value chain of coconut through appropriate forward and backward linkages. The formation of coconut producer's society at the grass root level and producer's company at the highest level would provide excellent auxiliary support to coconut export. The study has emphasized on the need of repairing the institutional voids in the existing sectoral innovation system of coconut and convergence of the stakeholders’ efforts to revive the coconut sector.