KANNUR: Production of Kerala’s version of feni is set to begin by mid-March. The iconic cashew-based liquor closely associated with Goa is more than just a beverage: it is a cultural symbol and a tourist attraction. Drawing inspiration from Goa’s success, Kerala is now preparing to carve out its own space with a locally produced variant that promises to benefit both farmers and the hospitality industry.
Payyavoor Service Cooperative Bank Ltd has secured official permission to manufacture the product under the brand name ‘K Feni’. The plant will manufacture around 1,000 litres daily in the initial phase. K Feni will contain 28% alcohol. Authorities involved in the project indicate that capacity will be scaled up subsequently, depending on demand and market response.
The ample availability of cashew apples in Kannur is expected to ease concerns over shortage of raw material.
K Feni will play an important role in strengthening the state’s tourism sector and also boost cashew farmers’ income, said bank president T M Joshi. “The project has already begun to receive an encouraging response from local farmers, many of whom have expressed strong support for the initiative. In the future, we plan to explore export opportunities abroad, with the belief that taking the product to the global stage will ensure maximum benefit for farmers, said Joshi, who has been working on the project for decades.
K Feni will reach consumers in convenient half-litre and one-litre bottles, making it accessible to a wide range of buyers. In the initial phase, the spirit will be marketed through Kerala State Beverages Corp (Bevco) outlets, ensuring a structured and regulated distribution network across the state.
The factory, located at Anayadi, in the Kunhiparambu ward of Payyavoor panchayat, will be equipped with three boilers for distillation, a storage unit, and a fermentation unit.
For years, cashew apples have largely gone to waste, discarded despite their potential value. With the launch of the project, farmers will now have the opportunity to sell their cashew apples as a key raw material for production, turning what was once considered waste into a source of income. In the initial phase, the facility will procure cashew apples at Rs 8 per kilogram.
Authorities clarified that the opportunity will not be limited to farmers of Payyavoor. Growers from outside the panchayat can also bring their harvested cashew apples to the facility, ensuring wider participation and benefit for the farming community.
Joshi said the price will be determined later. Procurement of cashew apples will start once the boilers are installed.
Beyond strengthening farm incomes, the project is poised to generate significant seasonal employment. Large-scale collection of cashew apples from farms and their transportation to the factory will require a sizable workforce, with estimates suggesting that more than 10,000 job opportunities could be created.