Tamil Nadu Farmers Seek Coconut Industrial Park, Research Institute, and GI Tag in Memorandum
The East Coast Coconut Farmers' Association, based in Peravurani, has submitted a memorandum to Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, outlining several demands to support coconut cultivators in the Peravurani-Pattukottai region.
The association highlighted that a regulated market hall, a godown, and a drying yard had been proposed at a cost of ₹4.50 crore in Peravurani. It urged the state government to allocate funds for these facilities promptly.
Among other demands, the association called on the government to procure dehusked coconuts through agriculture marketing committees, similar to the system in Kerala. It also proposed the establishment of a Coconut Industrial Park under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, stating that this would benefit coconut growers and create employment opportunities.
The memorandum further requested the setting up of a coastal saline research institute in Peravurani to address the rising total dissolved solids in groundwater due to seawater intrusion. Additionally, the association demanded permission for toddy tapping, the sale and distribution of coconut oil through the public distribution system (PDS), and a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Peravurani coconuts.
Other demands included the extension of the Coconut Development Board's rejuvenation and replanting (RR) scheme and the laying out of demonstration plots (LODP) scheme to all districts.
