KOCHI: The coconut climbing machines, which have become popular in Kerala, will soon be introduced in the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) countries.
After the APCC session/ministerial meeting held in Kochi recently, several representatives had expressed keen interest in buying or manufacturing the machines and employing it in large-scale projects in their respective countries.
Several delegates had also taken samples of the machines to showcase in their countries and are expected to place orders in the near future.
The Regional Agro Industrial Development Cooperative of Kerala Ltd (Raidco), one of the agro-manufacturing units in the state, has already given 10 samples of the machines to the coconut producing countries.
The meet saw the participation of delegates from coconut-producing member countries, including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam. The delegates from these countries had a first-hand experience in using these machines, which they found very practical and easy to use.
Coconut Development Board (CDB) chairman T K Jose said the delegates at the APCC meeting were very impressed by the coconut climbing machine introduced in Kerala.
The delegates had been provided with the details of the machine producing units, so that they could directly place orders or use the technology for manufacturing the machines in their countries. However, no order has been placed yet. Raidco managing director Manoj Kumar said rather than exporting, it would be more feasible to manufacture the machines in their countries.
“The price of the machine will be higher when it is exported. One coconut climbing machine can be sold at `2,500 in Indian market. However, when it is exported to other countries, the price of each machine comes to around around $100, which will not be feasible,” Manoj Kumar said.
“Technology transfer would be beneficial to them as it is very simple. Already, some of the delegates have taken the machines with them and they could produce it on their own or with the support of Raidco,” he said.
According to Manoj Kumar, the coconut climbing machines have become more popular in Kerala and other coconut producing states. At present, Raidco could produce nearly 500 machines a month as per the order from the farmers.