KOCHI: The Coconut Development Board (CDB) has given approval to the cold chain project of Muthalamada Federation of Coconut Producer Society paving the way for raising the number of neera outlets from the present 10 to 100 in Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts in October. The approval also came with a subsidy of 19 lakh to the federation.
The total expected cost of the project was 78 lakh and for this 18 lakh was collected as shares from coconut farmers. The remaining amount after the subsidy would be raised through bank loans.
Under the project, presented to the CDB by Palakkad Coconut Producer Company chairman P. Vinodkumar, the federation would have a cold storage of 10,000 litre capacity, two vehicles with refrigeration for 1,000 litre of neera and equipment to tap 1,500 palms.
Muthalamada Federation president P. Sudevan said that the project would ensure that all 1,500 palms, allotted to it for neera production, could be tapped. Each palm could give farmers an income of Rs 21,000 to Rs 35,000 through neera tapping a year.
Apart from supplying neera through cold chain, the Palakkad Coconut Producer Company is planning to supply the health drink through glass bottles as well by December. It has also plans to bring out processed neera which will have at least three months shelf life in room temperature.
