Zero-cholestrol 'Virgin Coconut Oil' to hit mkt

Kozhikode, Nov 5: A Central and Kerala government aided self-help group is all set to produce, for the first time in the country, zero-cholestrol, lauric acid rich 'Virgin Coconut Oil' at Perambra in the district.

''Initially we are planning to produce 2000 litres of virgin coconut oil a day,'' from raw coconut through ten units of Subhiksha, an outfit set up under poverty eradication scheme, chairman M Kunhammad told UNI.

Laboratory tests had proved that the oil, with zero cholestrol, contained 50 per cent lauric acid, which helped boost immune system of the body, making it a much sought after stuff in Europe and the Middle East, Produced directly from the raw coconut, through 'Direct Micro Expellingm (DME),' a technology developed by Australia, it was highly hygenic as well, he said.

He said Subhiksha, which got a national award for developing innovative coconut based micro-entreprises, would increase the production in a month or so to meet the export demand.

Australian experts Dan Etherington and Chrismaina, who developed the technology, are here to impart training to the Subhiksha workers on DME, he said.

Since the raw material was available here in abundance, production cost would be very less, Dr Dan said adding the state can tap the requirement in the international market.

Kunhammad said Subhiksha had entered into an agreement with co-operative major RUBCO for marketing the product for a period of three years.

Kerala Local Administration Minister Paloli Muhammedkutty would inaugurate the project at Chalikkara near here on November 9, he said.

UNI