The Coconut Development Board, under the Technology Mission on Coconut, has approved 23 projects with an outlay of ₹22.69 crore and financial assistance of ₹4.75 crore with annual processing capacity of 521 lakh coconuts and 4,200 tonnes production of coconut shell charcoal.
Of the 23 projects, there were three research projects and 19 projects on processing of coconuts for value-addition and one project for market promotion.
Under the sub component ‘Processing and Product Diversification’, four projects for desiccated coconut powder for processing 330 lakh nuts per year; four integrated processing units for desiccated coconut powder and virgin coconut oil, coconut milk and sugar, coconut vinegar and nata-de-coco and coconut water processing, etc were seen.
In Kerala, two desiccated coconut powder unit with a capcity to process 72,500 coconuts per day, one integrated coconut processing unit with a capacity to process 1,000 nuts per day and 1,000 litre coconut water per day, etc were sanctioned.
In Tamil Nadu, two desiccated coconut powder making units, one tender coconut water processing and packing unitwere sanctioned, while in Andhra Pradesh, four ball copra making units were approved.