ICAR - CENTRAL PLANTATION CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

What ICAR - CENTRAL PLANTATION CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE does

ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) is a publicly funded agricultural research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Established in 1916 and headquartered in Kasaragod, Kerala, with regional stations at Kayamkulam (Kerala) and Vittal (Karnataka) and research centres at Kidu (Karnataka), Kahikuchi (Assam), and Mohitnagar (West Bengal), CPCRI holds the national mandate for research on coconut, arecanut, cocoa, and palmyrah, and supports the livelihoods of approximately 20 million Indians dependent on plantation crops.

The institute's core technology platform combines conventional plant breeding, tissue culture, and omics sciences — augmented by AI and UAV-based crop management — and is anchored in three large germplasm collections (445 coconut, 178 arecanut, 515 cocoa accessions) plus the International Coconut Gene Bank for South Asia at Kidu. It has developed a catalog of improved varieties and hybrids (e.g., Kalpa series, Kera Sankara, Mangala, VTLCS), 13 granted patents for plantation-crop machinery and processing, biocontrol products (PGPRs, Oryctes Baculovirus, parasitoids, Trichoderma), and value-added processing technologies including virgin coconut oil, neera collection, coconut sugar, and tender-nut extraction. Digital delivery is enabled through the GPS-enabled e-Kalpa mobile app available in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada.

CPCRI monetises primarily through ICAR budgetary grants, with supplementary income from planting-material sales via the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) and two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), paid analytical and consultancy services (soil/water/plant/GC analysis, bioassays, 16S rRNA sequencing, field layout design), publication sales, technology licensing, and conference-hall rentals. It reaches farmers through community nurseries, ATMA training, AICRP on Plantation Crops (28 centres, 14 states), and partnerships with state horticulture departments, Coconut Development Board, NABARD, and international bodies (APCC, Bioversity International, COGENT).

Name

ICAR - CENTRAL PLANTATION CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Legal name

ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute

Website

https://cpcri.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ICAR-CPCRI is a government agricultural research institute under India's ICAR that develops improved varieties, technologies, and value-addition solutions for coconut, arecanut, cocoa, and palmyrah, serving smallholder farmers, state horticulture departments, and partner research institutions across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kasaragod, Kerala

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core funding provided by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Ministry of Agriculture for research and development activities
2. Planting Material Sales: Sale of coconut, arecanut, and cocoa planting materials (seedlings) through ATIC and community nurseries
3. Analytical Services: Charges for soil analysis, water analysis, plant analysis, pathological tests, entomological tests, GC analysis, and specialized testing services for farmers, industries, and educational institutions
4. Consultancy Services: Technical consultancy on nursery management, irrigation, fertilizer management, organic farming, pest/disease identification, tissue culture, and processing technologies
5. Publication Sales: Sale of priced publications including technical bulletins, books, and manuals on plantation crop management
6. Technology Transfer Fees: Commercialization of developed technologies, processes, and methodologies to industries and entrepreneurs
7. Conference Facility Rental: Rental income from Platinum Jubilee Hall, Diamond Jubilee Hall, and committee rooms for events and trainings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ICAR-CPCRI is a government agricultural research institute that develops improved varieties, hybrids, and tissue-cultured planting materials for coconut, arecanut, cocoa, and palmyrah, along with biocontrol agents, patented agricultural machinery, and value-added processing technologies. It also delivers analytical laboratory services, technical consultancy, farmer training, publications, and the e-Kalpa mobile application through a national network of regional stations, research centres, KVKs, and the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC).

Product overview

ICAR-CPCRI operates as a unified research institute offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for plantation crops (coconut, arecanut, cocoa, palmyrah). The product portfolio centers on improved planting materials (varieties and hybrids developed through conventional breeding and tissue culture), biological control agents, agricultural machinery and devices (many patented), and value-added processing technologies. Services include consultancy on production/protection/processing, analytical laboratory services through ATIC, the e-Kalpa mobile application for technology delivery, and publications including the Kalpa Newsletter. The institute provides technologies for the complete value chain from germplasm to processed products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• e-Kalpa: Integrated Android mobile app for technology delivery, interactive learning, and real-time data recording for farmers of coconut, arecanut, and cocoa
• Kalpa Newsletter
• Kalpa Vriddhi
• Kera Probio
• Kalpa Suraksha Kit
• Kalpa Vardhini

Products and services

• e-Kalpa Mobile Application Integrated Android-based mobile application enabling technology delivery, interactive learning, and real-time data recording for coconut, arecanut, and cocoa farmers. Features GPS-enabled platform, farmer issue reporting, synchronized farming, farmer diary, knowledge base, and notifications available in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada.
• Coconut Varieties and Hybrids (Planting Material) Improved coconut varieties including Chowghat Orange Dwarf, Kera Chandra, Chandra Kalpa, Kalpa Dhenu, Kalpa Mitra, Kalpa Pratibha, Kalpa Raksha, Kalpasree, Kalpatharu, Kalpa Jyothi, Kalpa Surya, Kalpa Haritha; and hybrids including Chandra Laksha, Chandra Sankara, Kera Sankara, Kalpa Samrudhi, Kalpa Sankara. Distributed as planting material from CPCRI's 4-star QR-coded nurseries.
• Arecanut Varieties and Hybrids (Planting Material) Improved arecanut varieties including Mangala, Sumangala, Sreemangala, Mohitnagar, Swarnamangala, Kahikuchi; and hybrids VTLAH1 and VTLAH2. Distributed as planting material, including tissue-cultured material produced at CPCRI's tissue culture facilities.
• Cocoa Varieties and Hybrids (Planting Material) Improved cocoa varieties VTLCS-1 and VTLCS-2; and hybrids VTLCH-1, VTLCH-2, VTLCH-3, VTLCH-4. Distributed as planting material for cocoa growers.
• Biocontrol Agents Biological control products including PGPRs for coconut and cocoa, Oryctes Baculovirus against Rhinoceros Beetle, parasitoids (Goniozus nephantidis and Bracon brevicornis) against coconut black headed caterpillar, Trichoderma and Metarhizium mass production using cocoa wastes. Sold at ₹150 each for parasitoids.
• Agricultural Devices and Machinery Patent-protected agricultural equipment including coconut de-shelling machine, tender nut punch and cutter, telescopic sprayer for palms, Snow Ball Tender nut Machine, shell fired copra dryer, solar cum electrical cum agricultural waste fired dryer, solar tunnel dryer, coconut shell removing machine.
• Value-Added Coconut Processing Technologies Technologies for coconut leaf vermicompost, coconut chips, virgin coconut oil (fermentation and hot processing methods), coconut water squash, neera collection technique, coconut sugar/jaggery/honey, Kalpa Krunch snack, carbonated tender coconut water preservation, coconut frozen delicacy, matured coconut water products (vinegar, jelly, squash).
• Consultancy Services Expert consultancy on nursery management, irrigation management, fertilizer management, organic farming, vermicomposting, palm-based cropping systems, pest and disease control, hybridization techniques, tissue culture, soft wood grafting, molecular characterization, drought management, and processing technologies. Includes field layout and design services (e.g., orchard layout ₹3,500/ha; HDMSC design ₹4,000).
• Analytical Laboratory Services Comprehensive laboratory analysis including soil physical properties, soil fertility (pH, EC, N, P, K, micronutrients), compost/manure analysis, fertilizer analysis, plant analysis, water analysis, GC analysis, pathological tests, entomological tests, GC-MS facility, phenotypic characterization using BIOLOG, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Differentiated pricing for students, industries, commercial and non-commercial users.
• ATIC - Agricultural Technology Information Centre Services Single-window delivery system providing quality planting materials, technological inputs, priced publications, CD ROMs, consultancy services, analytical services, and farm advisory services for farmers and stakeholders at CPCRI headquarters.
• Priced Publications Sale of priced publications including technical bulletins, books, and manuals on plantation crop management. Prices range from ₹20 to ₹250 for books; technical bulletins from ₹55; international publications from US$10-30.
• Conference Facility Rentals Rental of Platinum Jubilee Hall, Diamond Jubilee Hall, and committee rooms at CPCRI for events, trainings, and conferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two-year LoDP project on root wilt disease management in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, with ₹35 lakh funding from Coconut Development Board, benefiting 110 coconut farmers through integrated disease management
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia. CPCRI collaborates with APCC for coconut research coordination, World Coconut Day celebrations, and international workshops on coconut genebanks for climate resilience.
• Bioversity InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research organization headquartered in Rome, Italy. Collaborates on coconut genetic resources conservation and utilization.
• Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network for coconut genetic resources. CPCRI serves as the International Coconut Gene Bank for South Asia through this network.
• Coconut Development Board (CDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment of India body based in Kochi. Joint projects including the Laying out of Demonstration Plot (LoDP) project on root wilt disease management with ₹35 lakh funding, farmer training, and technology dissemination.
• Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment directorate in Kochi for promotion of cashewnut and cocoa cultivation.
• Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment directorate in Calicut for arecanut development activities.
• Kerala Agricultural UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agricultural university in Thrissur. Joint research, student training, and technology transfer activities.
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agricultural university in Coimbatore. Collaborative research on plantation crops.
• University of Agricultural Sciences, BangaloreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agricultural university in Karnataka for research collaboration.
• Central Institute for Research on Cotton TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR institute in Mumbai for interdisciplinary research collaborations.
• Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR institute in Calicut for spices and plantation crops research.
• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAR institute in New Delhi for plant genetic resources management.
• Department of BiotechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department supporting biotechnology research in agriculture.
• Coconut Research Institute, Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegation visit on November 5, 2025 to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise in coconut research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University combines crop science research, technology development, education, and agricultural extension. It is comparable to CPCRI in serving farmers and industry through public agricultural R&D and commercialization.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research: IISR conducts public-sector R&D on spice and plantation crops, including germplasm improvement, crop protection, production technologies, and commercialization. Its crop mandate and extension mission substantially overlap with CPCRI's activities.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research: IIHR develops horticultural crop varieties, production and protection technologies, farm machinery, and value-added products under ICAR. It is comparable through its multidisciplinary horticulture R&D, germplasm programs, and technology-transfer network.
• Kerala Agricultural University: Kerala Agricultural University undertakes crop research, postgraduate education, extension, and farmer training in the same regional agricultural ecosystem. Its plantation-crop focus and public research mission make it a strong operating peer.
• ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute: Another ICAR crop-research institute covering tropical crop breeding, production, protection, post-harvest technology, and farmer technology transfer. Its integrated research-to-extension operating model closely parallels CPCRI's.

Others

• ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources: NBPGR is an enabling peer responsible for conserving, characterizing, documenting, and exchanging plant genetic resources in India. Its germplasm infrastructure directly supports the type of crop improvement and gene-bank work performed by CPCRI.
• Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT: The Alliance is a global agricultural-biodiversity research organization that collaborates with CPCRI on coconut genetic-resource conservation and use. It is comparable as a complementary research and conservation institution rather than a direct local competitor.

Regional players

• Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka: The Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka is a national R&D organization focused on coconut breeding, crop protection, production, processing, and technology dissemination. It directly matches CPCRI's coconut mandate but operates in a different national market.
• Philippine Coconut Authority: The Philippine Coconut Authority supports coconut research, production, processing, and market development through a national public-sector platform. Its end-to-end coconut mandate closely resembles CPCRI's research and technology-dissemination role, although it serves the Philippines.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CoconutIndustry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cpcri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icar-central-plantation-crops-research-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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