Coimbatore : Neera, a product from coconut, was introduced in the city, claimed to be the first in Tamil Nadu.District Collector TN Hariharan said three farmer societies had been given licences to tap the health drink.

Anmalai Coconut Growers and Producers Society, Pollachi Vinayaka Coconut Farmers Producers Association and Kovai Coconut Growers and Producers Association, had been asked to tap 1,000 litres per day for sales, he said.

Commercialisation of the product would depend solely on the proper laboratory test, he added.

Depending on the success, growers could manufacture value-added products like neera sugar, neera honey and sweet, which had good market in foreign countries, Anamalai Society president Muthusami said. Coconut is grown in about 87,000 hectares in the district.