The Hindu Business Line : Cocofest to create awareness on byproducts

Kochi April 20 The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is organising a national-level coconut festival, Cocofest 2007, in Thiruvananthapuram from May 3-6.

The four-day festival, which will be held at Sooryakanthi fair ground, aims at creating awareness on the various technologies available in processing coconut and its byproducts. It will also help in attracting investment in the sector and widening the market for coconut products by creating consumer awareness, according to Ms Minnie Mathew, Chairperson, CDB. Progressive farmers, processors, potential entrepreneurs, scientists, extension workers, policy makers, machinery manufacturers, technologists and resource speakers from different parts of the country are expected to participate in the festival, she said.

Participants

More than 125 manufacturers of coconut-based products besides commodity boards, research institutions, government departments, machinery manufacturers, input supply firms, financial institutions, certification agencies, etc. are expected to participate in the exhibition.

Coconut tree climbing competition, quiz programme for farmers, recipe contest, coconut handicrafts show, slogan contest on tender coconut, coconut bunch show, buyer-seller meet etc., will also be organised during the festival.

Besides, seminars will be held from May 4-6 on themes `Coconut Cultivation - The way forward'; `Acceleration of value addition in Coconut' and `Marketing of coconut - Opportunities and challenges'.

Various competitions

Technical experts as well as selected farmers/entrepreneurs will present their success stories in each session.

The date of the preliminary selection for the palm climbing competition is May 2 and final competition is scheduled for May 3. Coconut recipe contest and coconut bunch show competition under various categories such as tall, dwarf and hybrids would also be organised for the farmers of Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari Districts.

A business meet scheduled on May 5 will be an ideal platform for manufacturers and buyers to interact with each other and expand their business, Ms Mathew added.

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