The ICAR–All India Coordinated Research Project on Plantation Crops (AICRP on PC) organized an online brainstorming meeting on 'Oil-yielding and neera-tapping palms’ on 17 March 2026 at CPCRI, Kasaragod. The meeting was chaired by Dr. K. B. Hebbar, Director, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod.

Dr. B. Augustine Jerard, Project Coordinator, AICRP on Plantation Crops & Convener, delivered his introductory remarks, followed by remarks from the Chairman. The technical session featured oil-yielding and sap-producing palms across India, beyond coconut and oil palm. Topics included, genetic resources conserved in field gene banks, potential alternative oil-yielding species, and the status of sap-yielding palms such as wild date palm, palmyrah, caryota, nypa, and raffia. Regional insights on neera production and utilization from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, along with technologies developed for neera collection and processing, were also discussed. The emphasis was on identifying potential in underutilized palms and commercialization.

The panel discussed on, future research, technology development, and policy interventions to promote sustainable utilization of these palm resources. Overall, the event highlighted the untapped potential of lesser-known palms and set the stage for strengthening research collaboration and value addition in the plantation sector.