Sri Vijaya Puram, June 19: A two-day training programme on “Value Addition in Coconut” with Major Emphasis on Preparation of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) successfully concluded today at ICAR-KVK South Andaman, Sri Vijaya Puram. The capacity-building programme, held on June 18th and 19th, 2026, was sponsored by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
The primary objective of the training was to empower women, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with the technical know-how to process raw coconuts into high-value products, thereby boosting entrepreneurship and income generation in the islands.
Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-CIARI, interacted closely with the trainees. He motivated the group to leverage this skill-building opportunity, adopt modern processing techniques, and transition into successful entrepreneurs. Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist & Head, KVK South Andaman, briefed the gathering on the strategic importance of establishing localized VCO units to drive the economic development of the islands.
Dr. Pooja Kapoor, Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science), KVK South Andaman, served as the Course Director. She provided the participants with comprehensive hands-on training on the preparation of VCO using the modern centrifugation method. The training also covered critical aspects of packaging, labeling, and quality control.
A total of 37 enthusiastic participants successfully completed the two-day session, gaining a solid mix of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
The training concluded with a valedictory session where sample bottles of freshly prepared VCO were distributed to the trainees. Representatives from both the Directorate of Social Welfare and KVK urged the participants to implement their newly acquired skills on the ground to achieve self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to the local island economy. The training was conduced under the supervision of Dr Y .Ramakrishna.