New coconut-water based health drink Neera awaits Kerala government nod
Kerala has 180 million coconut trees and most coconut-growing countries in the world make neera
Thiruvananthapuram: Neera, a coconut water-based non-alcoholic drink, is awaiting the Kerala government’s nod to become a money spinner for coconut farmers in the state.
“I am optimistic of a favourable decision from the government. It will help coconut farmers take a turn for the better. The GDP of the state would increase by 17.16 per cent if 10 per cent of coconut trees in the state are tapped for neera,” T.K.Jose, chairman of the Coconut Development Board, told IANS.
Unlike neera, another drink, toddy, has an alcohol content of five to eight per cent, while “neera is a pure health drink and despite being sweet, it can be consumed even by diabetic patients. Neera has a lot of body building proteins”, Jose said.
Kerala has 180 million coconut trees and 93 of the 94 coconut-growing countries in the world make neera.
Jose has a plan in which coconut farmers can make more money if the state government classifies neera as a health drink.
“Coconut farmers earn just Rs300 [Dh20] each year from one coconut tree by selling coconuts. By producing neera, the farmers can earn Rs3,600 each year from just one tree,” Jose said.
From one bunch of coconuts, the daily production of neera would range from one litre to 4.5 litres. A coconut tree grows about three bunches of coconuts every year.
In Thailand, a 330ml can of neera is sold for the equivalent of Rs160 and in Karnataka, one litre is sold for Rs150.
“We have worked out a model where around 3,000 cooperative societies will operate at the grassroots level and 110 federations and 10 companies will function at the district level. Collection of coconuts will be at the grassroots level. Neera will be packed at a modern plant,” Jose added.
Fifty per cent of the earnings will go to the farmer, 25 per cent to the neera technician (the tapper) and the rest towards marketing expenses.
“A hundred thousand new jobs would be created for neera technicians. One technician can tap around 20 trees a day. His income would be more than Rs1,000 a month,” Jose said.
A decision on neera is expected next week by the Oommen Chandy government, which celebrates its second anniversary on May 18.
