Vazhakulam Agro and Fruit Processing Company
Vazhakulam Agro and Fruit Processing Company
Under the Kerala Horticulture Development Programme, Nadukkara Agro Processing
Company Limited (NAPCL), a modem fruit processing factory, for the commercial processing
of pineapple, mango and other fruits was established in the heart of Kerala's Pineapple growing
area Nadukkara, Avoly panchayat near Muvattupuzha in 2000 at a cost of Rs.21.5 crores.
NAPCL was established as a public limited company with 582 farmers holding 70% share and
the Government of Kerala 30% share. The plant has a state of the art technology and the latest
equipment because of the support from the European Union during the initial period. The factory
has aseptic packaging as well as canning units. NAPCL has ISO 9002lHACCP certifications and
its own brand of pineapple juice called "JIVE" and can process 70 t of pineapple per day. The
company initially produced 200 ml Jive tetra-pack, 256 kg dump bag juice concentrate, besides
ginger candy. Today, company markets seven different types of natural cool drinks under Jive
brand without using any preservatives. They have become very popular as 'the drinks ofnature '.
The Jive plant has a production capacity of 6000 packslhour. Capacity utilization is much more
efficient as the factory also processes mangoes during off-season of pineapple. NAPCL also
provides for contract processing to other processors in the private sector. The company procures
pineapple from the market when the price goes below a threshold level so as to maintain a
reasonably good market price. The company has 92 employees and provides employment to
another 150 indirectly. NAPCL organizes trainings and seminars for farmers for the
popularisation of pineapple and promotes MD2 pineapple variety for cultivation to meet the
challenges of global competition in the WTO regime. The company has also taken initiative for
getting GI indication registered for Vazhakulam Pineapple. NAPCL has recently commissioned
an 'integrated pack home for export offresh pineapple' with facility for pre-cooling, packing,
branding and certificate labeling having a capacity of 700 t1day at a cost of Rs.3.7 crores fully
funded by APEDA. It has recorded a growth rate of 500% during the last 5 years.
NAPCL was taken over by state government and functioned in the name of Nadukkara
Agro Processing Factory (NAPF) for some time. It is being renamed as Vazhakulam Agro and
Fruit Processing Company with a proposed share holding of 51% by Government of Kerala, 30%
by farmers and 19% by VFPCK, out of 10,000 shares in total. Vazhakulam Agro and Fruit
Processing Company can be contacted over phone: 0485-2261547, 2261451, Email:
napcjive@gmail.com, jiveagrofruit@gmail.com and Website: www.napcl.com
reference : Joy PP. 2013. Pineapple sector in Kerala: 51atus, opportunities. challenges and stakeholders. Pineapple Research Station
Vi" (Kerala Agricullural University), Vazhakulam-686 670, Muvatlupuzha, Ernakulam, Kerala. Email: prsvkm@gmail.com
Pineapple sector in Kera1a: Status, opportunities, challenges and stakeholders 6