ALAPPUZHA: ‘Neera’ was expected to energise people and the industry. Apart from being a healthy alternative to soft drinks, the production of the drink, tapped from the inflorescence of coconut, was expected to revolutionise the coconut farming sector of the state. Many farmers were attracted to the option and took up coconut farming. Training for tapping the drink was actively carried out in various parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While many processing factories emerged in south India, the industry quickly lost the initial euphoria and moved into a debt trap.
“We gave tapping training to 20 Neera technicians four years ago,” said K K Titus, secretary of Kerapriya Federation, a coconut producers’ federation at Thuravoor in Alappuzha. “After three months, the demand for Neera reduced and payments were delayed, prompting them to abandon the job. We wound up the project after we suffered a loss of Rs 24,000 in labour and other charges. There were no takers for the ‘energy drink’.”
T S Viswan, director board member of Karappuram Coconut Producers Company, Kanjikuzhi said, “The company set up a plant for processing Neera at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, with Rs 50 lakh subsidy from the state and Central Governments. The balance amount was taken as loan from various banks with director board members as guarantor of the loan.
Now, we are nervous about how we will repay the huge amount. The lack of consumers is the main reason for the failure of Neera production. While soft drink manufactures offer 1.5 to 2 litres for Rs 60 to 70, 200 ml of Neera costs Rs 30 to 35; so people choose the former. We destroyed lakhs of litres due to a shortage of consumers.”
Viswan said while earlier there were more than 50 tappers in various federations under the company, now there are only four tappers. The company processes and sells Neera in four outlets in Cherthala taluk. “We also make value-added products like Neera sugar, jaggery, chocolate and vinegar,” he said. “But the lack of marketing facility is a constraint and the absence of government support is also a problem for survival. The change of guard in the Coconut Development Board (CDB) is another reason for the setback to the industry.”