Context: Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission has rolled out a unique project to produce Neera and Palmgur which has huge potential to create employment in the country.
Key Points

• The initiative was launched at Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra, a state with more than 50 lakh palm trees.
• The project has been rolled out on the initiative of Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• KVIC distributed tool kits for extraction of Neera and making Palmgur to 200 local artisans who were given 7 days training by KVIC.
• The initiative will provide direct employment to 400 local traditional trappers.
• KVIC is proposed to start standardized collection, processing and packing of Neera under controlled conditions so as to prevent it from fermentation.
• It aim to promote Neera as a substitute to soft drinks while also creating self-employment to Adivasis and traditional trappers.

About Neera

• Neera is a nutrient-rich health drink extracted from the palm trees before sunrise.
• It is consumed in many Indian states.
• Due to lack of institutionalized market technique, the commercial production and large scale marketing of Neera has not commenced yet.

Significance:

• There are approximately 10 crore palm trees across the country.
• A wide range of products can be produced from Neera if properly marketed.
• At present Palmgur and Neera worth Rs 500 crore is traded in the country.
• The turnover is likely to increase manifold with commercial production of Neera.