The Hindu : Karnataka News : Areca plate making unit planned

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Friday, Jun 06, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Areca plate making unit planned

Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE: The Thrissur-based Deepam Palm Dish will shortly start areca plate manufacturing units in the State, especially Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga district, its chief executive officer Lonappan Panthallookaran has said.

The company, recognised by Kerala Government, which has 160 units in Kerala, is eying the areca growing areas in Karnataka to expand its base and also provide self-employment opportunities to the unemployed youth here.

Mr. Panthallookaran told presspersons here on Wednesday that the firm at present had one areca plate manufacturing unit in Hassan.

The presence of an estimated 32-crore areca palms in Karnataka and Kerala made these States ideal for this business, he said and added it presented a potential to set up at least 28,000 manufacturing units in these States.

Plans were afoot to start one unit in Tamil Nadu as well, he said.

Stating that the company would supply the plate manufacturing machines and provide training to those interested in setting up the units, Mr. Panthallookaran said it would give a written assurance to buy back the plate stocks manufactured by the entrepreneurs.

The average leaf yield from one areca had been estimated at eight, he said and added that this would ensure the availability of more than 260-crore areca leaves.

On potential employment opportunities, he said each unit needed a minimum of five persons and added that the available raw material (260 crore areca leaves) would provide employment to around 1.5 lakh people.

With Indian Railways taking a decision to switch over to these eco-friendly plates, and private caterers showing interest in this product, the demand for them would only grow in future, Mr. Panthallookaran added.

An entrepreneur could be assured of 300 days of work in a year; he said and added that one could earn Rs. 150 to Rs. 175 a day with an initial investment of Rs. 1.25 lakh.

Details could be had from Mr. Panthallookaran on 9349486814, 9388557880 or e-mail deepampalmdish@rediffmail.com or www.deepampalmdish.com.

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