Bihar has a large number of palm trees and has the potential to replace Tamil Nadu as the largest producer of neera. Neera is the fresh sap of the palm tree which is widely used in Bihar to make alcohol. However, alcohol is banned in Bihar which creates a huge problem for the farmers, especially the Toddy tappers. Toddy tappers are a community of Bihar whose socio-economic status depends on Toddy collection and marketing. Toddy is a fermented beverage which cannot be sold in Bihar as it is illegal due to it being a dry state.
In this regard, the Bihar government has recently started Neera based industries to promote its healthy consumption and provide employment to the Toddy tappers community. Apart from Toddy, Neera can be processed into various products like squash, RTS, jaggery, etc. Additionally, fresh Neera is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and other healthful compounds. Its fresh consumption helps in curing many diseases. But the collection of fresh neera is difficult as it is prone to fermentation immediately after collection and it increases with the increase in temperature and time period. Several preservation methods have been practiced to stop the fermentation but no viable solution has been found so far. Hence, a preservation method is required to preserve fresh neera by stopping the fermentation process. In this aspect, Dr. Mohammad Waseem Siddiqui, Scientist, Department of Food Science and Post Harvest Technology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour has developed a process to preserve neera in powder form. The process of making powder from palm neera has received patent from Germany. This technology will open new entrepreneurial avenues for neera producers and will be helpful in preserving neera for a long time.
This patented technology will help to enjoy the taste and flavour of neera throughout the year Preservation of fresh neera is extremely difficult hence this technology converts fresh neera into powder using spray dryer. This method involves converting fine droplets into dry powder. The steps involve homogenization of neera with different concentrations of carrier material. Subsequently, the homogenized neera solution is atomized through a nozzle, followed by rapid solvent evaporation in contact with a hot air flow. The dried particles are then collected inside a collection container. The powder can be stored in an airtight container for up to a year. It can be used after dissolving in water. Its sensory properties after dissolving are almost the same as that of fresh neera. Moreover, for convenience, its dimensions can be modified as per the requirement of the farmers.
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