The Coconut Development Board (CDB) Regional Office, Guwahati organised a “Market Promotional Meet” in collaboration with ICAR-KVK Namsai at KVK office, Momong, Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh. Over 40 participants took part and interacted actively in the event which included rural entrepreneurs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO), progressive farmers and horticulture crop enthusiasts.
        Dr. Utpal Barua, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Namsai in his welcome address briefed about the prospects and problems of coconut cultivation and sought interaction from the participants to harness more and more information to increase production, processing and marketing. Dr. Rajat Pal, Director CDB explained about several possible value added products of coconut and its health benefits. He urged the farmers to view coconut as a ‘pension crop’ which can provide income more than 80 years. He highlighted the support provided by CDB for setting up processing and marketing units. Shri Kamal Roy, DDM NABARD explained to the farmers about the various ways, NABARD can help promote coconut cultivation in the area by funding development projects, infrastructure projects as well as exposure visit etc. Mr. Mardo Nino, DHO encouraged farmers to take up coconut considering the vast demand of raw and processed coconut products and also mentioned about the subsidy provided for coconut plantation under the Atma Nirbhar Plantation Yojana. Chow Sihana Chowtang also mentioned about the possibility of setting up coconut processing unit under the PM Micro Processing Enterprise. Mr. Kaushik Das, Marketing Officer of CDB gave presentation regarding the various value added products of coconut, CDB support & subsidies being provided for setting processing unit and marketing.
        The programme was organised to create awareness among the FPCs, entrepreneurs and local manufacturer of coconut products regarding CDB’s market promotional schemes and also to encourage the participants to venture into processing and marketing of coconut sector.