CHENNAI: Neera, a health drink prepared from the sap of coconut palm, is likely to be showcased at the World Food India 2017 platform in New Delhi, according to Tamil Nadu agriculture minister R Doraikannu and agriculture secretary Gagandeep Singh.
This comes after the government permitted the sale and marketing of Neera, considered to be a health drink for persons suffering from diabetes as it has low glycemic index (GI).
The GI is a measure of how quickly and how high a particular food item raises blood sugar level by releasing glucose into the blood stream.
Addressing a World Food India 2017 roadshow, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Singh said State is planing to market the drink globally and plans are afoot to set up Neera processing units.
Singh said the government will allow only coconut growers’ associations, cooperative societies and coconut growers’ federations to extract Neera using ‘anti-fermentation liquid’ (AFL).
Interestingly, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Badal had said World Food India Summit, to be held in New Delhi from November 3 to 5, will have a special section where in such natural health drinks like Neera and other products will be popularised globally.