Coconut Development Corporation to procure raw coconut; 26 centres sanctioned

Vadakara: The agriculture department has tasked the Coconut Development Corporation also to procure raw coconut at Minimum Support Price and hand it over to KERAFED. The department has approved 26 collection facilities at Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad. 

Procurement began at three facilities in Kozhikode on Thursday. The corporation had written to the government saying it was ready to do procurement. The number of raw coconut collection centres in the state has now neared 100. 

Coconut Development Corporation MD Sidharthan AK said that more centres would open by Tuesday.  The corporation has requested the government to approve more collection centres. Kasaragod and Thrissur districts are likely to be included in the next phase. 

The government has currently approved 12 centres in Kozhikode, seven in Kannur, 4 in Palakkad and 3 in Malappuram. The coconut collected by the corporation would be handed over to KERAFED after processing.     

The collection centres that began functioning in Kozhikode were at Kuttiadi, Vengara and Kattippara. Coconut would be collected on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Rs 32 per kilogram.