The Project Approval Committee meeting of the Technology Mission on Coconut has cleared a project for establishment of Neera demonstration unit at the Horticulture Farm, Thumbe in South Karnataka. The committee approved the project at a total cost of Rs 1.15 crore.
The project was submitted by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka under Technology Mission on Coconut. There are technologies available (low cost and high cost) to preserve Neera for a period of 3 days to 2 months. The technology has been developed by Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and DFRL, Mysore.
Neera is a sugar containing juice obtained by tapping unopened spadix (inflorescence) of coconut palm. Neera can easily be converted into value-added processed products such as jaggery, sugar, candy, ice cream, toffee etc. These products have high market value.
‘Neera', being a non alcoholic and nutritious drink, the Board intends to promote it for its value-addition potential, employment generation, and sustenance of enhanced returns to the farmers. The share of the Coconut Development Board to the project cost will be Rs.28.75 lakh.
An average of 150-180 litres of Neera can be tapped from a tree (average 2-3 litres a tree a day) over a period of six months tapping period. This gives a return of nearly Rs.30,000 an acre, that approximately works out to 30 functional trees, a press release issued here said.