Product diversification in plantation crops

Abstract

Coconut, arecanut and cocoa are considered to be the major segment of the plantation crops and the mainstay of agrarian economies in many states and union territories of India. The products and by-products of these crops form vital inputs for many of the industries and support the livelihood of many millions. They contribute a significant amount to the national exchequer and country’s exports by way of excise and export earnings. They also provide direct and indirect employment to a large number of people in the country. Coconut and arecanut provides adequate interspaces for intercropping of seasonal crops and thus ensures the food security to a great extent. The potential of converting coconut into different emerging value added products such as desiccated coconut powder, virgin coconut oil, coconut chips, coconut milk, preserved tender nut water, coconut inflorescence sap and coconut sugar is realized in view of globalization over the traditional processed products of copra and coconut oil. Similarly, there is a scope for exploitation of alkaloid free polyphenols from arecanut to use in pharmaceutical products and natural colouring matter apart from the regular use of chewing and other by-products such as husk, leaf and sheath. The cocoa industry in the country had expanded to a considerable extent in recent years. Considering the market growth in the chocolate segment in India, which is about 20% per annum, cocoa, has a great potential to develop in future years. The demand for various value added products has been increasing across the globe. Adding value to farm products becomes vital for rural growth by enhancing farm income and providing employment in the processing businesses. India has tremendous potential for the production and marketing of value added products both in the domestic and international market. Nevertheless, in India, these crops have been continuously facing the problem of lack of adequate on-farm processing infrastructure, inadequate value addition technologies and price volatility, and are in great need of modernization, processing and value addition. This book reviews the status of present and emerging novel post harvest processing and value addition technologies to enable these crops to meet both domestic and international challenges of cost of production, processing and value addition.