Rejuvenating Coconut Sector for Improving Livelihood Security

Coconut, a versatile tree crop, plays an important role in ensuring food and livelihood security to millions of people in tropical countries, in addition to providing invaluable ecosystem services. Coconut research in India began with the establishment of the Coconut Research Station in 1916 by the Madras Presidency. The milestone research achievements include discovery of hybrid vigour (1932), light interception and ischolar_main-spread studies (that resulted in the development of cropping system models), development of pest/disease management strategies, and protocols for embryo culture and cryopreservation of embryos and pollen, processing protocol for novel coconut food products, etc.