The Coconut Development Board (CDB), under the Union Ministry of Agriculture, has been designated by the Centre to function as an export promotion council like other commodity boards.
Ms Minnie Mathew, IAS, Chairperson, CDB, told Business Line that the Union Government had issued a notification to this effect, under which the Board will take up export promotion of all coconut products other than those made of coconut husks and fibre.
Export promotion of coir and coir products made of coconut husk and fibre are done by the Coir Board.
Good potential
"There is very good potential for export of coconut products in the overseas markets and the Board can make significant contributions to promotion of our products in the overseas markets using the Market Access Initiative Schemes of the Union Government," she said.
Henceforth, all manufacturers and exporters of coconut products will have to register with CDB so as to become a beneficiary, she said. Those registering with the Board will be entitled to facilities such as Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB), Focus Product scheme and Vishesh Krishi Upaj Grihudhyog Yojana.
Infrastructure for coconut export development zone could also be considered for creating a centre of excellence for coconut and coconut products, she pointed out.
Activated carbon export
The Chairperson said the country has achieved significant growth in export of activated carbon. During the last fiscal, total shipments of this material stood at Rs 135 crore against Rs 112 crore in the previous year.
Exports of other products such as coconuts (fresh), coconut (dried), desiccated coconut, coconut oil, coconut oil (refined), hair oils, coconut shell, shell charcoal , shell hukah and copra, during April - October 2008-09 stood at Rs 35.21 crore. In the absence of a centralised export promotion establishment, it is difficult to compile an actual export statistics, she said. With scientific and strategic promotional activities, exports of Indian coconut products could be increased substantially, she said.
Besides, quality of the products and its credibility in the overseas market could also be ensured when they are exported under the banner of the CDB, she pointed out.
The CDB is formulating the modalities to be followed under the Foreign Trade regulations. A study of the potential overseas markets would also be considered if necessary given the tough competition from other major coconut producing countries such as the Philippines, she said.
The name of the Board, which has all through been engaged in developing coconut cultivation in the country, would not be changed even after being designated as an export promotion council, she added.
Source : Business Line