Value-Added Products to Help Boost Revenue of Coconut Farmers

Speaking at the inaugural of the day-long seminar organised by the Chennai region of the Coconut Development Board at Belur near Vazhappadi, Rajeev Bhushan Prasad, Director, Chennai region of the Coconut Development Board said, learning the techniques of making value-added products will enable the coconut farmers augment their revenue, a report in The Hindu said on September 30.  He explained the steps initiated by the Board, a statutory body established under India’s Union Ministry of Agriculture, for the integrated development of coconut and coconut-related products.  

Farmers should understand the value of each and every product of the coconut tree such as coconuts, tender coconuts, coconut leaves, shells etc, and produce value-added products from them by mastering the techniques. They can join together and fetch loan up to Rs. 50 lakh ($67,200) from the Centre for establishing value-added products manufacturing units. The Coconut Development Board will extend all assistance to the farmers for establishing the units, providing the needed training to the farmers etc. 

Sasikumar, coconut development technical expert, said that a special training program for for the youths in climbing coconut trees would be conducted for a week in Santhiyur soon. Unemployed youths, including women, in the age group of 18 to 45 can join the training program. There is good demand for tender coconuts in foreign countries and farmers can try their hand in this trade, Mr. Sasikumar said.