Three-member panel to rejuvenate Neera

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Neera will be produced and marketed under a single brand soon. A three member expert committee comprising of scientists from The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kerala Agriculture University and Coconut Development Board have been formed to finalise the colour, quality, taste and shelf life of Neera. These decisions were taken at the high level meeting called by agriculture minister V. S. Sunil Kumar here on Tuesday, to market Neera extensively across the state on par with international standards.

Two years ago, 40, 000 litres a day of Neera was produced which has now dwindled to 2000 litres which cuts a sorry figure among the plight of the seven Neera producing companies and also the 29 Coconut Producing Companies in the State. The three member expert committee consists of Dr. K.B. Hebbar of CPCRI, Dr. Sujatha of KAU and Dr. Sreekumar Pothuval of CDB. At the high level meeting the experts urged that Neera being a healthy drink should hit the markets in an attractive tetra pack. Coconut Development Board has been assigned to provide high level training to Neera technicians.

Sunil Kumar has agreed to include a comprehensive package in the next budget to revive the Neera. He said Neera cannot be manufactured in a factory and that it is the farmer who produces it.   “A consortium will be formed from farmers producing companies so that a single brand Neera can be marketed by the agriculture department. Attractive wages will be provided to the Neera technicians”, said Sunil Kumar.

A second expert committee comprising of Dr. Hebbar, Dr. Sujatha and Deepthi Marar and Subramaniam of CDB and Vinod Kumar and George representing farmer producing companies and Mathew of Kerafed will decide on appropriate name for the Neera which will hit the market soon in its new avatar.  The two expert committees will finalise their work within a month. A review meeting of these two expert committees will be held on May 22 to take stock of the situation.