Coconut processing, value-addition get impetus

Projects worth Rs 95 cr sanctioned in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

The project approval committee on 'Technology Mission on Coconut' has cleared 43 projects with an outlay of Rs 94.72 crore and a subsidy of Rs 9.87 crore. Of these, nine projects (for research) fall under the process standardisation of Neera variety, according to the Coconut Development Board.

Under the project component 'Processing and Product Diversification', 34 manufacturing units have been sanctioned.

These include setting up of 11 desiccated coconut powder manufacturing units, one virgin coconut oil unit, four tender coconut water units, two coconut milk powder units, one coconut water- based vinegar unit, two coconut shell charcoal units, five coconut shell-based activated carbon, seven ball copra and one milling copra unit.

Statewise, in Kerala, six units have been sanctioned for desiccated coconut powder, virgin coconut oil, coconut milk powder and packaging of tender coconut water having a capacity to process 85,000 nuts per day.

In addition, one vinegar unit, one ball copra unit for processing 80,000 nuts per year and one milling copra unit to the Federation of Coconut Producers' Society (Muthalamada, Palakkad) have also been sanctioned, said T K Jose, chairman, Coconut Development Board.

For Karnataka, nine units of desiccated coconut powder with a capacity to process 2,85,000 nuts per day, one tender coconut water packing unit for processing 20,000 nuts per day, two shell charcoal and one activated carbon unit with a capacity to process 180 million tonne of shell per day have been sanctioned.

Tamil Nadu has got three units for tender coconut water, one milk powder unit for processing 146,000 nuts per day and three activated carbon units having a production capacity of 247.50 tonnes of shell per day.

In Andhra Pradesh, PAC has sanctioned five ball copra units with a capacity to process 4.15 million coconuts per year.