COCONUT PARK AT KUTTIYADI

COCONUT PARK AT KUTTIYADI

The first coconut biopark in the country would start functioning at Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district within a year, it was announced at a meeting for investors in the coconut sector here on Friday. P.P. Thomaskutty, executive director of Kerala Industrial Development Corporation, also announced at the programme financial support and infrastructural facilities for investors who come forward to start coconut-based industrial units.T.K. Jose, chairman, Coconut Development Board who also spoke, announced 25 per cent subsidy for investors. It was also announced that the State Industrial Corporation had already acquired 135 acres at Velam, near Kuttiyadi, for the proposed coconut park.

Among the products that could be made are packed coconut water with a shelf life of six months, coconut ice-cream, Virgin coconut oil and honey. The park would also have facilities for making furniture using wood from coconut tree. Coconut Board director K Muraleedharan; marketing officer Deepthi Nair; technical officer Mrudula Nair; Kerafed chairman Manayath Chandran; and Alok Kumar Saboo, president, Malabar Chamber of Commerce; also participated in the investors’ meet.

Prof. John Kurakar