Palm Board
Guiding the Vision of KhadiKraft
Thiru. M. Vijay Balaji
Hon'ble Minister in charge of the Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department Minister
Thiru T.N. Venkatesh, IAS
Principal Secretary to Government Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department
Thiru S. Suresh Kumar, IAS
Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Khadi & Village Industries
Objective
Tamil Nadu Palm Products Development Board was established as per Tamil Nadu Act-1994 during the year 1995 having its headquarters at Chennai. The main objective of the board is to provide an institutionalized support to develop palm products and to provide Co-operative platform for the sustenance of palm products industry thereby promoting the welfare of the palmgur artisans
Palm Jaggery Cooperative Societies and Federations
Tamil Nadu Palm Products Development Board encourages the production and sales of palm products through its primary jaggery manufacturing Co-operative Societies, district palmgur co-operative federations and State Level Tamil Nadu State Palmgur and Fibre Marketing Co-operative federation. These federations are directly engaged in the production and sales of palm products.
Palm products
Neera is the primary palm product, a basic raw material for the production of other eatable palm products like palm jaggery (which is commonly called in vernacular language as Karuppatti), Palm candy called karkandu, palm sugar, palm candy toffee. ‘Neera’ drink is very popular and much sought for during tapping seasons in the areas where palm trees are grown in plenty, like Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Nagarcoil, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts.
License for Neera tapping
Inorder to prevent the misuse of Neera, the Government have ordered that the tapping and selling of neera have to be carried out only by obtaining proper licence. Accordingly the licence to palm artisans is being renewed every financial year by staff of palm board.
Administration
Chief Executive Officer of the Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board is the Functional Registrar for all the Co-operative Societies and Federations under the control of Tamil Nadu Palm Products Development Board and Personal Assistant to Chief Executive Officer is the (Ex-officio) Chief Executive Officer of Palm Board.
Marketing of Palm products and Sale of Sukku coffee
Neera which by itself is a delicious and nutritious natural drink. It has to be consumed within a few hours after it is tapped. Alternatively it could be preserved under the cold storaged system from the point of tapping till it is consumed. To facilitate this kind of marketing, the Government has extended financial assistance for Neera filling machines in pouch(Sachets). The coolers, ice boxes, aluminum canes, tools and equipments etc., are being provided by the government for manufacturing palm jaggery and Neera. To create employment opportunities to the rural women palm based artisans, palm leaf articles hand made training are also being provided by the government to boost self employment, thereby enhancing their livelihood.
Awarness of Palm Products
Considering the awareness created among the people for consuming healthy and natural drinks, the sale of palm jaggery mixed sukku (Dry Ginger) coffee which contains nine natural ingredients has been introduced in various main locations and being sold out in various places in Chennai city and its surroundings of Marina Beach, Secretariat, Island ground and in Kuralagam premises.
The sweet gold viz., palm jaggery is being marketed at the rate of range from Rs.360/- to Rs.460/- per kg. approximately.It varies seasonal to non-seasonal.
Palm Board – Contact details
- 044 – 2534076
- E.mail: tnpalmboard@gmail.com
- Location: Tamil Nadu Khadi & Village Industries Board.
Chennai House, 1st Floor, No. 6, Esplanade Rd, opp. to High Court, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600104.
