Kochi: The sunrise neera industry in Kerala is proving to be a generator of employment in an unprecedented size. If the latest updates for the Coconut Development Board were to be believed, then it is in need of 2 lakh neera technicians who would tap the coconut trees twice a day and earn not less than Rs 30,000 a month.
According to the CDB, there are 417 coconut producer federations affiliated to 27 coconut producer companies. “They would require about 2 lakh technicians to meet their targets,” CDB sources said.
Kerala is one of the few states in India which have amended abkari laws to facilitate tapping of neera, the non-alcoholic beverage from coconut.
The Palakkad CPC, which has chalked out an elaborate plan for neera production and distribution, would require 2,500 people to meet its production plan.
“We shall be completing an investment plan of Rs 13 crore by the end of this financial year,” said Vonod Kumar, its chairman.
“We are planning to produce 50,000 litres of neera a day so that we can have a significant presence in the market. This means we shall need about 2,500 people in our company alone.”
The tapper gets Rs 20 per litre of neera, and the average take home wages for a tapper will be at least Rs 600 day, he said. “There are many people who make more than Rs 30,000 a month,” he said.
The CDB conducts trains the technicians through a two-week training programme organized by the CPCs. According to CDB, people from other states are now lapping up the chance.
“As many as 25 people from Chattisgarh have just now completed training from Kuttiadi coconut processing company,” CDB sources said. “This is open even for students who are willing to work hard and make a living during their student lives.”
