Coconut Value-Addition Center in India to Commence Operation

A coconut value-addition center coming up at Shenbhagaramanpudur near Nagercoil would commence its operation shortly, according to a news report in The Hindu. With outlay of    16 crore under the National Agriculture Development Programme,  the Minister for Information Technology T. Mano Thangaraj said the center would produce virgin coconut oil, desiccated powder, wooden press oil, coconut charcoal, coal blocks etc. The coconut would be dried naturally using the sunlight from solar driers, besides being dried in traditional methods. 

The center would have two storage points each having the capacity of storing 500 tons of coconut, auction hall, packing hall, dormitory for the farmers and the workers, canteen, retail shops, administrative office etc.  Mr. Mano Thangaraj also said the Department of Horticulture was working on conserving traditional coconut seedlings being grown largely in Kanniyakumari district.