02/09/2008 (The Hindu), Kochi - Kerala on Tuesday made a strong plea for subsidy for coconut oil.

Instead of giving subsidy to Palm oil, the Centre should consider Coconut oil for subsidy, Health minister P K Sreemathi said, speaking at a function here to mark the world coconut day celebrations.

The misconception about coconut oil that it would cause heart ailments was part of some pressure tactics from certain lobbies, she said.

Keralites had been using coconut oil for ages. Heart disease being reported now was only due to changing lifestyles and could not be attributed to use of coconut oil, she said.

In his keynote address, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture C V Ananda Bose, said the Coconut Development Board (CDB)'s coconut rejuvenation programme would soon get the union government's sanction.

CDB Chairman Minnie Mathew said India had emerged as the largest coconut producing country and cluster programmes would be continued to help coconut farmers.