Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Science & Technology New technology to preserve sweet toddy Aravindan
Kottayam , Jan. 17 THE Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode, has developed a technology to preserve sweet toddy for a year without fermentation. Disclosing this, Mr R. Hali, former consultant to Dr M.S. Swaminathan Foundation and a former Director of Agriculture, Kerala, told Business Line that it is a significant contribution of the 32-year-old Kerala Agricultural University. Based on the new development, the possibility of establishing a multibillion-dollar health drink industry in India cannot be ruled out, he said. A publication of the station, claims that this is the first ever technology given shape to store coconut floral sap for a period of one year and that too under ambient condition. The Regional Station describes the sweet toddy as a delicious nectar. Describing the same as an unparallel health drink, the scientists claim that the sweet and fresh sap is a panacea by nature. In a proposal submitted to the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, the station authorities have assured that the soft drink from sweet toddy is three times sweeter than tender coconut water and being very sweet, the drink is preferred to many other popular drinks available in the market. To install a unit with a production capacity of 500 litters a day, it costs Rs 32 lakh and the annual income is estimated to be Rs 17 lakh. The other technologies preferred are honey, cake, toffee, jelly and granules. Technology is also ready for a wonder wine from sweet toddy. Dr M.P. Giridharan, Principal Investigator of the project, exhibited the products before the enlightened citizens of the State Capital in an exhibition on food qualities of coconut. He also presented a paper on the subject in the national seminar held along with the exhibition. The Coconut Development Board of India and all the other coconut growing countries are trying to develop new products from coconut to make the cultivation profitable to millions of growers. According to Mr Thomas Mathew, Chief Coconut Development Officer, the current global area under coconut is 12.78 million hectares spread over in 93 countries of 7 continents. Of this India's share comes to 1.8 million hectares.
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