coimbatore instead of detaining small farmers for tapping neera palm nectar the state government should allow them to tap and sell the drink or set up collection centres to procure it from them narayanasamy naidu farmers association president as babu saidthe government has permitted only farmer producer companies to tap and market neera but how can small farmers float companies where can we go for funds and maintenance of the companies instead of asking small farmers to form companies in order to get permission to tap neera the government should launch collection centres to collect neera from individual farmers such centres should be set up in places known for coconut cultivation such as pollachi and sulur the union leader saidto set up farmer producer companies permission is needed from five departments including excise and food safety babu said if the government procures neera from us we will be spared from these procedures neera procured from us can be tested in government labs to ensure quality the model we suggest is similar to the aavin where a staterun organisation procures milk from farmers directlycurrently the state gives permit to tap neera only to companies which have set up cold chain facilities this is to ensure that the drink is stored at 3c otherwise it would turn into toddy which is banned in the statefour farmer producer companiestwo each in pollachi and anaimalai have been given licence to tap neera in the district agriculture department officials said that some farmer producer companies in the district are engaged in neera production through the cold chain process coconut farmers can always approach the department to form and register producer companies the department will provide them support an official said