India's Coconut and Coir Economy
Virgin Coconut Oil and New Products
How virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, neera and coconut sugar add value for farmers, and the role of farmer producer companies.
New products add value to coconuts.
Virgin coconut oil
Made from fresh coconut milk without heating, sold at premium prices.
Other products
- Desiccated coconut for sweets.
- Coconut milk and cream.
- Neera: fresh, non-alcoholic palm sap.
- Coconut sugar.
- Activated carbon from shells.
Neera
Kerala allowed neera production by farmer groups from 2014.
FPOs
Farmer producer companies process coconuts to earn more.
Challenges
Quality control and marketing.
The neera outlet
A farmer producer company sells fresh neera in bottles at a Kochi kiosk.
Thinking coconuts only become copra
Many high-value products exist.
Key takeaways
- Virgin coconut oil sells at a premium.
- Neera, milk and sugar add value.
- Farmer producer companies process coconuts.
- Quality and marketing are challenges.
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