Given the price fall in copra and coconut oil, the Coconut Development Board has asked Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) to focus more on value addition to ensure a steady income.

FPO’s can explore the possibility of extracting coconut milk and add value to it considering its demand in urban and rural markets, a senior official in the Board said citing the launch of Flavoured Coconut Milk. He pointed out that the US company ‘So Delicious Dairy Free’ produces 65 different products from coconut milk.     

Initial experiments showed that extraction of 800 ml of milk is possible from an average nut and the processing does not require any high level technical procedure or training. By way of this value addition, he said that a farmer can ensure an income of ₹30-40 per nut rather than selling it at throw away price.

The processing technology neither involves any huge investment and FPO’s can avail the know-how from CDB Institute of Technology at Vazhakkulam near here. This year’s deficient monsoon may have an impact on coconut production next year to the tune of 10 per cent and it adversely affect copra and coconut oil arrivals into the market, he said.  

Meanwhile, the coconut oil market both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu is in a steady line with slight fluctuation in prices quoting at ₹10,900 (₹11,200) and ₹10,300 (₹10,150) respectively. Copra prices are also ruling at ₹7,350 (₹7,550) and ₹7,300, in the same level quoted last week.

Thalath Mahmood, the new President of Cochin Oil Merchants Association (COMA) said that the market is expected to revive ahead of festival demand in North India in the coming days.   

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