The company sanctioned ₹2.55 crore for the project through Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.
The Vazhakkulam Agro and Fruit Processing Company (VAFPC), jointly owned by the state government and pineapple farmers, will soon be undertaking biodegradable cutlery and plates from pineapple leaves.
Sources in the fruit processing company said the Indian Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, will provide the technology for manufacturing of cutlery and plates.
The company has been sanctioned ₹2.55 crore for the project through Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. It was initially expected that around 500 kg of leaves would be processed in a day, and the fruit processing company would invite bids to set up machinery and ancillary facilities for the enterprise.
Agro and Fruit Processing Company was established in 1998 for processing of pineapples and other fruits with the support of the European Union, given the centrality of Vazhakkulam near Muvattupuzha for the cultivation of pineapples in Kerala. It is estimated that there are about 5,000 pineapple farmers in the state, who have sown about 18,000 hectares of the crop.
The company has now slowed down the purchase of pineapple from farmers and its price in the open market remains quite remunerative. The company aims to provide support prices for fruits when market prices are low and process the fruits to produce pulp, concentrate and juice. Company sources also said that VAFPC is planning to launch Jive brand of soda soon. Jive is a popular brand of fruit drinks from the company.
Meanwhile, VAFPC has started exporting Vazhakkulam Pineapple, which is famous for its sweetness and fresh fruit qualities, under geo tag. Sources said the first consignment of around 500 kg was sent to Dubai last week. Interestingly, the GI tag given to the properties of Vazhakkulam Pineapple increases the demand for it.