Mangaluru (TNN): Toddy production sector in Dakshina Kannada district is facing multiple setbacks, including shortage of toddy tappers and decrease in sale.
While lack of expert toddy tappers affects production, sale of low-priced Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) has resulted in decrease in toddy sale.
Although toddy tapping is a decently paid vocation, the sector faces crisis as educated youths show no interest in opting for it. Due to these constraints, toddy tappers multipurpose co-operative societies are on its path of expanding its activities to banking and other businesses. Toddy tappers association members also urge the state government to market 'Neera'(sweet toddy) in tetra packs, thereby allowing them expand their activities. Dakshina Kannada District Moorthedarara (toddy tappers) Mahamandala president Sanjeeva Poojari told TOI that the young generation is not keen on taking up toddy-tapping despite the fact that it fetches good pay.
"Toddy tappers may earn anything between Rs 750 and Rs 1,500 per day. However, the educated youth are not interested in the job. Toddy tappers from Kerala dominate the sector. We are offering free training with stipend for youths, who are interested in taking up the job," he said.
In Dakshina Kannada, there are 27 cooperative societies, of which four are not functional at present, Poojari pointed out.
"Each society is running an average of 20 toddy shops in their respective area, and they need at least 15 toddy tappers to produce the required quantity of toddy," he added.
On the decrease of toddy sale, Poojari pointed fingers at the increase in illegal sale of low-priced foreign liquor in rural areas.
"Illegal sale of cheap whiskies in rural areas has affected the sale of toddy. One of my shops was selling an average of 400- 500 litres of toddy about 20 years ago. However, the sale has come down to 100 litres per day," he added.
Lakshmana Kotian, president, Pavooru Moorthedarara Vividoddhesha Sahakari Sangha, said that the society is in its path of expansion.
"With an objective to expand our activities, we have renamed the Pavooru Moorthedarara Seva Sahakari Sangha as Pavooru Moorthedarara Vividoddhesha Sahakari Sangha, a multipurpose co-operative society. We have opened a bank under the society at Konaje," Kotian said adding that aim of the society is to protect the interests of members.
"We are urging the government to set up neera factories with the help of toddy tappers co-operative societies. The government should give us the approval to produce and market the neera," he added.
