Crisis-hit Kerala coop turns to Goan feni for salvation

In a bid to overcome the crisis in agriculture and cooperative sectors, the director board of a cooperative bank in Kerala has sought permission to make cashew feni, an alcoholic beverage exclusively produced in Goa. 

The director board of Payyavoor Service Cooperative Bank in Kannur submitted an application to the state Health Minister and Cooperative Joint Registrar seeking permission to distill the Goan brew in Kerala. It also submitted a detailed project to Chief Minister and other ministers. 

Feni could lift the spirits and revenue of farmers in the area who are struck hard by the drop in the price of natural rubber and other cash crops. Feni is also an Ayurvedic medicine, the bank pointed out.

In high spirits!

• 14,000 litres of Feni can be produced from 420 tonnes of cashew fruit. 
• The bank expects Rs. 3.74 lakh revenue from 14,000 litres of feni.
• Feni could create numerous job opportunities.
• Can be sold through outlets of Kerala State Beverages Corporation. 

The project report also points out that the sugar cane farmers of Punjab and Haryana were producing alcohol from sugar cane waste. The same model could be followed in Kerala  to evade legal restrictions, it said. 

Recently, Goan government had decided to give feni the status of the 'heritage spirit of Goa.' The beverage, which is in high demand among tourists, is also the first liquor in the country to obtain Geographical Indication tag. 

• Gaon feni
• Cashew feni
• crisis in cooperative sector
• Cooperative bank crisis
• Kerala cooperatives
• GI tag