Kochi, May 22 (UNI) To facilitate interaction with major stakeholders on quality management and food safety standards, Coconut Development Board (CDB) has organised a seminar on prospects and challenges in the coconut oil sector.
Thalath Mahmood, President, Cochin Oil Merchant Association (COMA), inaugurated the seminar and, in his inaugural address, emphasized the need for maintaining quality standards in coconut oil production and requested the support of the board in preventing adulteration of coconut oil.
Dr. B. Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, spoke in his introductory remarks on the need for concentrating on processing, value addition, marketing, and export of coconut products for the inclusive growth and sustainable development of the coconut sector.
Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Bureau Standards, Bureau Varitas, the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), the Regional Analytical Laboratory (RAL), and officials of the Coconut Development Board led the seminar held on Tuesday.
Dr. Soban Kumar, Senior Technical Officer, NIIST, and Thomas Kiran, Research Officer, RAL, were the panelists for the interactive session.
Leenamol M. A, Assistant Director (Marketing), CDB, briefed on the support given by CDB for the promotion of various coconut products.
Representatives from coconut oil manufacturers attended the program.
The meeting provided a venue for sharing advances in technology related to coconut processing, and the interaction provided insights into the challenges and constraints faced by the processors, which are expected to lead to necessary policy initiatives in the sector. Deepthi S. Nair, Director (Marketing), CDB delivered the welcome address, and Mridula K, Development Officer (Marketing), CDB proposed vote of thanks.
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