Oil seeds

Coconut

The coconut palm is the most useful palm in the world. Every part of the tree is useful to human life for some purpose or the other. Hence, the coconut palm is endearingly called ‘kalpavriksha’ meaning the tree of heaven. The copra obtained by drying the kernel of coconut is the richest source of vegetable oil containing 65 to 70 per cent oil. Kerala is the leading state in coconut production in India. The following 2 organisations are involved in the Research and Development of coconut in India.

1. Coconut Development Board (CDB), Kochi, Kerala
2. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala

Coconut Development Board (CDB)

Coconut Development Board is a statutory body established by the Government of India for the integrated development of coconut production and utilization in the country with focus on productivity increase and product diversification. The Board which came into existence on 12^th January 1981, functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, with its Headquarters at Kochi in Kerala and Regional Offices at Bangalore in Karnataka, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and  Guwahati in Assam. There are six State Centres situated at Bhubaneswar in Orissa, Calcutta in West Bengal, Patna in Bihar, Thane in Maharashtra, Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Port Blair in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Board has 9 Demonstration cum Seed Production (DSP) Farms in different locations of the country and now 7 farms are maintained. A Market Development cum Information Centre has established in Delhi. The Board has set up a Technology Development Centre at Vazhakulam near Aluva in Kerala.

Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)

Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) was established in 1970 as one of the agricultural research institutes in the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The present mandate of the institute is to conduct research and training on coconut, arecanut and cocoa.

Coconut Production Technologies

• Package of practices developed by Central Coconut Board
• Package of practices developed by CPCRI

Source: Coconut Development Board & Central Plantation Crops Research Institute

Sunflower, Safflower and Castor

IIOR in Hyderabad has the mandate of managing the genetic resources of Sunflower, Safflower and Castor. It undertakes research and training on these 3 mandate crops and coordinates the various research activities across the country related to these crops.

• Agricultural operations to be followed for Sunflower, Safflower and Castor

Source: Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research

Groundnut

• Agronomic practices for cultivation of groundnut
• Improved Disease Management Practices for Production of Disease Free Groundnut
• Management of Insect Pests
• Rainfed Groundnut based cropping systems in India (1MB)

Oil Palm

• Oil Palm cultivation practices
• Month-wise advisories for Oil Palm cultivation
• FAQs on Oil Palm cultivation

Related resources

1. Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research
2. Directorate of Groundnut Research
3. Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research