Value addition in coconut can bring back cheer to farmers: CDB

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) on Monday asked farmers and coconut producing companies to go in for value addition to beat all the present shortfalls in the sector.

The city-headquartered CDB suggested the industry come up with good quality, branded coconut oil and flavoured coconut milk - which they themselves have launched - as it predicted a 10 percent reduction in coconut production compared to that of 2014-15,on account of deficient monsoons and this affecting arrivals of copra and coconut oil into the market adversely.

In a press release issued here, the CDB says the Coconut Producers Federations should install quality copra driers for manufacturing grade copra which in turn acts as a midpoint in the supply chain of the companies.

"A US company 'So Delicious Dairy Free' produces 65 different products from coconut milk. The Farmer Producers Organizations here can explore the possibility of extracting coconut milk and add value to it. The technology to this is now ready and it's not an expensive one," it said.

It said initial experiments reveal that extraction of 800 ml of milk is possible from an average nut.

"By way of this value addition, farmers can get an income of Rs.30-Rs.40 per nut rather than selling it at a throw away price. There is no need for the farmers to panic and sell off their produce at reduced price," said the CDB.