Association urges government to purchase husked coconuts

The East Coast Coconut Farmers Association has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to procure husked coconuts directly from coconut farmers.

In a resolution passed at its general council meeting held at Peravurani on Tuesday, the association sought the procurement of husked coconuts by the government through the Department of Agriculture Marketing and Agriculture Business for the benefit of coconut growers. It also sought marketing of coconut oil at a subsidised rate through the public distribution system, usage of coconut oil in the preparation of food distributed to school students under the morning breakfast and noon meals schemes, and production based incentive to boost the production of coconuts.

While seeking an industrial park at Peravurani for production of coconut value-added products, it also urged the State government to lift the ban on toddy, taking into consideration the livelihood conditions of coconut farmers. It urged the government to expedite the process of availing GI tag for coconuts produced by farmers in Peravurani region.

The association demanded the setting up of a coastal saline research institute at Peravurani and a krishi vigyan kendra to provide training for manufacturing of coconut value-added products and a coconut development board branch at Peravurani.