The regional office of the Coconut Development Board (CDB) would soon be shifted to Andhra Pradesh, said Kakinada MP Thota Narasimham here on Wednesday. At present, the office is in West Marredpally, Hyderabad.
“We will speak to Union Agriculture Minister and explain the reasons for shifting the CDB regional office to A.P. It is ideal to shift the office as major coconut producing areas come under the A.P. after division of the State,” he told media persons after participating in the World Coconut Day celebrations here. The event was organised with a theme ‘Coconut for family nutrition, heath and wellness’.
Tapping of coconut neera, a sweet vascular sap collected from immature unopened coconut inflorescence, is not permitted under the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act-1968 as it is considered as alcohol. Referring to neera tapping, Mr. Narasimhan said the Kerala government has permitted Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) registered with the Board for tapping, processing and marketing of Neera.
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Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have already initiated action for amending the Excise Act. “We will also request the State government to give similar exemption in the larger interest of coconut farmers in coastal districts,” he said.
Farmers from A.P., Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka attended the event. A variety of coconuts such as Malayan yellow dwarf, chowghat orange and green dwarfs and ganga bhondam displayed in stalls draw the attention of participants. A few stall owners made brisk business selling pure coconut oil, vinegar and honey.