KOZHIKODE: A Neera plant is all set to function in Chakkittapara under a consortium of societies and federations comprising close to 20,000 farmers. The Perambra Coconut Producer Company registered under Kerala Coconut Development Board would produce Neera besides a bunch of value-added products such as virgin oil, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water, coconut powder, and flavoured milk.
“We have 120 Neera technicians working at present. Already Neera has been produced and brought into the Vadakara market on an experimental basis," said its chairman E.S. James. Another plan is to manufacture fertiliser out of coconut fibres. As a part of the operation, copra drier has been set up in the ten federations. The company boasts of 16 federations and 220 societies engaged in coconut production under it.
The plant is expected to be a big boon for the farmers. Mr James said the company had invested Rs 11.10 crore in the plant at Thalachira on the Peruvannamuzhi-Chakkittapara Road. Coconut farmers in the Perambra region, from Koyilandy to Chakkittapara, are members of these societies. “Neera is the last chance of survival for us. It would make a huge impact on the market and the lives of agrarians if the government comes with full backing," said K.A. Augustine, a farmer in Koorachundu. The plant is expected to be functional in October.
