Centre for Advanced Agricultural Science & Technology (CAAST) for Knowledge and Skill Development on Coconut Based Secondary Agriculture

Faculty strength associated with project: 

Coconut InflorescenceSap (Neera):

The pioneer research work in this area was carried out under Coconut Mission (CM) in association with a team of scientists comprising of ADR (Coconut Mission) and scientists from Horticulture, Soil Science & Agrl Chemistry and Plant Breeding,  Community sciences,Processing Technology and Agrl Engineering departments. Presently, the programme is being refined according to the requirement from the industry by slight modifications in the machinery used for increasing efficiency with the help of scientists from the dept of Agricultural Engineering. The fine tuning is being done in consultation with the Coconut Producer Companies such as Kadathanad CPC and Perambra CPC.

Coconut based Food Products:

A team of scientists under ADR, RARS, Pilicode, Agrl Engineering department, CoH, Vellanikkara and Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram are involved in the development of various products from coconut kernel and coconut water such as VCO, Danthapala oil (two formulations for hair and skin care), mouth wash, facecream, hair cream and toilet soap,coconut water syrup, coconut water vinegar, and coconut water honey.

Coconut based Wood Products:

A team comprising experienced and young faculty who has expertise in the scientific as well as technological aspects of coconut wood value addition and waste recycling is involved in the development of coconut wood based products.Well established network and collaboration with national and international scientific Institutions and NGOs of repute such as FSC, WWF, TRAFFIC, GFTN, IPUniversity, Dwaraka(New Delhi), FCRI,Mettupalayam, FCRI, Dulappiilly, Telengana, College of Forestry,Ponnampet and Sirsi, IWST and IPIRTI, Bangalore, IFGTB, Coimbatore, KFRI, Peechi and Wood Based Industries such as ITC, Bangalore, EID Parry Coromandel, Cuddalore, HNL, Velloor,TNPL, Karur, FIT, Alwaye, Wesrtern India Plywoods, Valapatnam etc. and Furniture Clusters, Consortia such as the TTFC, Chevoor, KFCL, Kochi, ZFC, Calicut, FUMMA, KMMA, Perumbavur, and Coconut Producer Companies such as KCPCL (Kodungallur Coconut Producer Company Pvt. Ltd., ), CPCs, Vadakara and Palghat.

Coconut biowaste utilization:

The programme will be lead by scientists from the Department of Soil Science & Agrl. Chemistry, Wood Science, Agricultural Engineering and Microbiology department.

Market Research and Analysis:

The necessary market analysis and survey for supporting the various secondary agriculture programmes envisaged under the project will be carried out by experts from the department of Agrl. Economics and Agrl. Extension.