This study investigates the technological capabilities (TC) of coconut based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kerala, India, to address systemic capacity variations in value-added agribusiness. A comprehensive Technological Capability Index (TCI) was developed as a composite framework integrating enterprise resources, technological innovation, market competence, and resource coordination. The empirical results reveal significant structural disparities, with micro-enterprises demonstrating a critically lower TCI compared to small and medium strata, while innovations in technology use emerged as the dominant dimension driving sustainable performance across all categories. The results contribute a validated diagnostic tool for policymakers to move away from uniform support schemes and instead design tiered, scale-specific interventions that target the distinct resource constraints of micro-enterprises. Furthermore, it provides a strategic roadmap for promotional agencies to optimize public–private resource allocation toward cluster-based processing technologies and shared market linkages. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that leveraging technology capability analysis enables targeted technology adoption, localized innovation, and enhanced market competitiveness, fostering the long-term sustainability of the agrarian MSME sector.
Shilpa et al. (Wed,) studied this question.