With annual production of 2824 lakh nuts, Odisha’s share in national coconut production is 1.75% (Deptt of Hotriculture, 2008). Odisha is the fifth largest coconut producing state in India with production mainly found in districts of Puri, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak & Balasore.

The four other major producing state such as Kerela, Karnataka, Tamilnadu & Andhra Pradesh have a well defined commercial policy of commercial coconut production. In Odisha, Commercial production is very limited with most of the produce being part of backyard cultivation. Out of annual production of 2824 lakh nuts, only 120 lakh nuts is stated to be marketed in the yards (2008), which is only 23%. There exists a wide gap between coconut production and its marketing in the state. Coconut being the major horticultural produce of the state, a well defined commercial policy is needed to encourage organized marketing of coconut in the state.