Fri Jan 31 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Coconut Farmers Find Relief from Monkey Menace with Innovative ‘Neera’ Tapping Technique

**Mangaluru, Karnataka, January 31, 2025** – Coconut farmers in Karnataka’s coastal and Malnad regions are combating significant crop losses due to monkey raids, with an innovative solution offering a lifeline. The adoption of a new ‘neera’ tapping technique, utilizing a Coco-sap Chiller developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), is proving remarkably effective.

‘Neera,’ a sweet, nutrient-rich sap extracted from coconut spathe, is the key. The Coco-sap Chiller, a portable device installed on the tree, chills the sap as it’s collected, preventing fermentation and contamination. Surprisingly, the chillers also deter monkeys, who appear to mistake them for traps, thus protecting the crop.

K. Sathyanarayana Udupa, President-cum-Managing Director of the Udupi Kalparasa Coconut and All Spices Producer Company Ltd. (FPC), reports that in areas using the chillers, monkey damage has been significantly reduced. The FPC, which has been utilizing the technology for over two and a half years, is now producing and selling not only ‘neera’ but also value-added products like sugar, jaggery, and vinegar.

Dr. K. Balachandra Hebbar, the CPCRI Director who developed the Coco-sap Chiller, highlights its ability to maintain ‘neera’s’ quality for 12-14 hours, preventing spoilage. He emphasizes the sap’s exceptional nutritional value, including its balanced pH, high potassium content, and antioxidant properties.

The FPC’s success story extends beyond ‘neera’ itself. They’re expanding their operations, opening new franchises and developing a range of coconut products. Muralidhara Ullura, a financial advisor to the FPC, estimates that a farmer can earn up to ₹100,000 annually by tapping ‘neera’ from just eight trees.

The FPC’s ‘neera’ products have even gained national recognition, with their sugar exhibited at the G20 Summit in 2023 and jaggery included in the Union Finance Ministry’s Deepavali gift boxes in 2022. This innovative approach is not only boosting farmers’ incomes but also creating rural employment and showcasing the potential of value-added coconut products. The FPC plans to expand their product line further, aiming to introduce a new product from each village they operate in.

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