The current production of coconuts in the Nicobar Islands is more than 2 crore annually. Apart from the amount consumed for household use, the bulk is exported in the form of copra. Cultivators in Car Nicobar get around Rs.4/coconut. However, for household use, the Nicobari people prepare virgin coconut oil. This is sold in Chennai for over Rs.200 per litre. Since each coconut contains about 100 ml of VCO, this translates into about Rs. 20 per coconut as income.
The principal aims of the project have been to:
- Develop a quick, cheap and efficient way of producing VCO
- To train local residents of Car Nicobar to use this machine.
- To develop market linkages for the sale of this oil, so as to ensure that the growers get the best price for the oil.
This project had a no-cost extension until June 2010 to allow a training workshop to be held. The workshop was attended by dignitaries from the island, and was inaugurated by Shri Vivek Rae, IAS, the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
A cooperative called the Dosti group was also set up, and consists of young men and women from Car Nicobar representative of each of the 15 villages on Car Nicobar, and who have received training in sustainable development from the tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. This cooperative will manufacture, transport and market Virgin Coconut Oil.
With this the project ended, having designed a coconut press to make Virgin Coconut Oil, and to market it. The project has been chosen as a finalist for the 2011 St Andrews Prize for the Environment.
Rauf Ali