Tender coconut consumption booming in the country

KOCHI: It may be an indication of more people going after natural drinks. The tender coconut, relished for its nutrient-rich water, is witnessing a surge in sales in the country much to the delight of Coconut Development Board which has been aggressively promoting the product.

Tender coconuts account for 15 % of the total production of over 15 billion coconuts in India with sales peaking during summer months. Given the rising sales, CDB is preparing to conduct a nation-wide feasibility study to understand the demand and consumption pattern of tender coconut.

CDB will soon short list an institution from a list comprising IIM, Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Agricultural Finance Corporation, Indian Market Research Bureau etc. for conducting the study, CDB marketing officer Mr Balachandran Nair told ET. Farmers are happy as they get Rs 5.50 to 6 per nut as farm gate price

A survey by Maharajas College on the consumption pattern in Kerala has revealed that there has been a whopping 130 % increase in the sales of tender coconut in Kerala, which is the largest coconut producer with over 600 crore nuts. Yet another study of the tender coconut sales in TamilNadu by Gandhigram University is in the pipeline.

Karnataka is the largest producer of tender coconuts in the country with nearly 40 % of its production of 160 crore coconuts going as tender coconuts, Mr Nair said. Maddur in Karnataka is the only place in the country having tender coconut auctions with nuts going to Bangalore, Mumbai and even Delhi. West Bengal is another state with a high production of tender coconuts. Though the total coconut production is low at 35 crore, a majority of it is going as tender coconuts.

The companies involved in packing and selling tender coconut water are expanding facilities to cash in on the opportunity. Sakthi Coco Products in Pollachi selling tender coconut water in cans and pouches as Tender Coco is one such firm.``We are installing new machines to raise the capacity from 5000 cans to 15,000 cans per day,������ said MD C.M.Kamraj.

CDB has also joined hands with pineapple concentrate producers Nadukkara Agro Processing Co. Ltd. for mocktail pinacolada mixing coconut milk and pineapple juice. Both the organizations are gearing up for a country-wide promotion campaign to market the product.