A meeting of investors in the coconut processing sector has highlighted issues relating to remunerative prices, potential to set up tender coconut water units and importance of value-added products.
T.K. Jose, Chairman, Coconut Development Board, said there is a potential to set up 500 tender coconut water units in the country.
He said there is enormous potential for certain value added coconut products.
In his presidential address, Jose said the Coconut Development Board was trying to promote and market a basket of value-added products such as packed tender coconut water, desiccated powder, virgin coconut oil, ice cream milk and milk powder.
He felt the Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh could provide extra subsidy of 25 per cent in addition to the 25 per cent subsidy provided by CDB under Technology Mission. This would motivate entrepreneurs in the coconut sector to venture into coconut processing sector.
There is vast potential for promoting ‘neera,’ the vascular sap of immature coconut inflorescence. A coconut farmer gets monthly income of Rs 1,500 if he gets one litre of neera from one coconut tree and if he gets 3 litres, the income will go up to Rs 4,500 per palm.
Minnie Mathew, Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, said, "The focus needs to be on ensuring remunerative income for coconut farmers. There is crisis in the coconut sector due to price fall.
According to a statement, the coconut investors meet, where over 100 entrepreneurs attended, was organised by Coconut Development Board in association with Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Experts felt that the processing and value addition in the coconut sector has to be scaled up manifold. India is lagging far behind in processing for value addition and export.
Export of value-added products from a small country like Sri Lanka is about four times than that of India while area under coconut in Sri Lanka is only one sixth of the area of India.
The Coconut Board has initiated measures to come out with a series of value- added coconut products under the Scheme Technology Mission on Coconut.