Cracking the coconut commerce puzzle

Value addition is one of the chief requirements for coconut to become a commercially lucrative crop

Lack of adequate value addition is among the major factors holding coconut back from becoming a lucrative commercial corp. Demand for coconut oil has been stagnant worldwide because of competition from relatively cheaper alternatives like palm oil. In India, coconut oil’s use as a cooking medium has remained confined to Kerala and Keralites. Fresh coconut water is in good demand almost all over the country but meeting this demand requires bulky nuts to be hauled over long distances entailing heavy costs. Value addition of coconut through processing is hardly eight per cent at present. It needs to be stepped up