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Coconut Board thrust on product diversification

Our Bureau

HYDERABAD, Dec. 14

THE Coconut Development Board (CDB) is planning to encourage diversification of coconut products. The board's Technology Development Centre near Kochi in Kerala has been pilot-testing various technologies in this regard.

According to the board Chairman, Dr P. Rethinam, diversification of coconut products by manufacturing convenient food items to cater to the needs of housewives and working women would strengthen the industry which depends on coconut oil for its survival.

He said formation of farmers' societies for the processing of coconuts was one of the solutions to overcome the present crisis faced by the industry as a result of price crash. Till now, technologies had been developed for the manufacture of coconut cre am, spray dried coconut milk powder, preservation and packing of tender coconut water and manufacture of vinegar from coconut water by various institutes including the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). These technologies had been tran sferred to private entrepreneurs for commercial exploitation.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Dr Rethinam said by-products utilisation was another area which was being given more attention by CDB. Shell powder, shell charcoal, shell-based activated carbon, shell handicrafts, utility articles such a s ice cream cups, beverage cups and shell buttons were the commercial products derived from coconut shell.

This apart, CDB would promote tender coconut water as a health drink. Dr. Rethinam said surplus production of milling copra could be halted if a minimum of 25 per cent of the coconut production was consumed as a beverage in the form of tender nut.

CDB would be spending Rs 5 crore on market promotion and an additional Rs 6 crore on extension and publicity of coconut. During the five-year period, the board would spend Rs 6.25 crore on technology development and Rs 4.5 crore on creating a national da tabase.

The board had so far provided financial assistance to 11 coconut-based industries and grant-in-aid to 110 artisans to create infrastructure facilities for the manufacture of coconut-based handicrafts.