economic importance of coconut
From here, island-hopping via coral atolls lining the Tethys Sea, potentially boosted by the ocean currents at the time, would have proved crucial to dispersal, eventually allowing ancestral coconuts to reach India. The decoration of foots is astringent and is used as mouth was and gargle. Coconut oil, from the seed of the palm coconut, Cocos nucifera, is highly revered in Asia as the "Tree of Life" or as the fruit of the gods. [158], The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club of New Orleans traditionally throws hand-decorated coconuts, one of the most valuable Mardi Gras souvenirs, to parade revelers. In many parts of the world, the cultivation and sale of coconuts is a major source of income, especially for those living in rural areas. But this is uncommon. [39] Thenga, its Tamil/Malayalam name, was used in the detailed description of coconut found in Itinerario by Ludovico di Varthema published in 1510 and also in the later Hortus Indicus Malabaricus. Sri Lanka is the world's fourth-largest producer of coconuts and is the second-largest producer of coconut oil and copra, accounting for 15% of the global production. The dried calyx is used as fuel in wood-fired stoves. Very very educational many thanx for your elaborate description.Raheem, Your email address will not be published. : B.arenosella, B.atriloqua (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), B.mathesoni (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), and B. Several countries' economies are based on the coconut palm. Coconut is grown in more than 90 countries of the world and Indonesia, Philippines, India are the major producing countries of the world. However, they can be found in humid areas with low annual precipitation such as in Karachi, Pakistan, which receives only about 250mm (9+34in) of rainfall per year, but is consistently warm and humid. [77], Coconut has a number of commercial and traditional cultivars. She has worked in some of the worlds most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Saturday &Sunday CLOSED, Hybrid Coconut seedlings, Deejay Sampoorna. (2009). According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, the coconut and African oil palms have important roles in international trade as sources of vegetable oil and fat. nuciferae. Neera is a delicious natural non-alcoholic beverage, extracted from the spathe or the immature flower spike of coconut trees. A long handle made from some other wood may be inserted into the base of the bundle and used as a two-handed broom. Palm wine is distilled to produce arrack. Yet, its high in calories and saturated fat, so you should eat it in moderation. Which Is Healthier Refined Or Unrefined Coconut Oil? They need year round warmth and moisture to grow well and fruit. The tradition began in the 1910s, and has continued since. [171] Often it is decorated with bright metal foils and other symbols of auspiciousness. The biggest barrier to establishing an investment climate for coconut and an economic alternative to oil palm land area expansion is the critical lack of quality planting materials and coconut investment model. Malauhog (literally "mucus-like") refers to very young coconut meat (around 6 to 7 months old) which has a translucent appearance and a gooey texture that disintegrates easily. [14][15], The interior of the endocarp is hollow and is lined with a thin brown seed coat around 0.2mm (164in) thick. While there is a concentration of coconut plantations in the coastal regions of the country, it is also grown in the hinterlands where the agro-climatic requirements of coconut cultivation are met. Fresh husks contain more tannin than old husks. This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 13:03. [18][19][20] It is further strengthened by other similar botanical evidence of contact, like the pre-colonial presence of sweet potato in Oceanian cultures. [182] The earliest direct description is given by Cosmas Indicopleustes in his Topographia Christiana written around 545, referred to as "the great nut of India". Both the exocarp and the mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut, while the endocarp makes up the hard coconut "shell". Perera, Champa K. Bandaranayake and Hugh C. Harries. Her articles have appeared in "Newton Magazine" and she has contributed to myriad popular books, including "Masters of Deception" and "Click: The Ultimate Photography Guide for Generation Now." What are the economic importance of coconut? "The potential of the Coconut Industry is huge and benefits are available for parties from all sectors. Only a few of the roots penetrate deep into the soil for stability. It is spread by host insects, that thrive on heavy turf grasses. (2006). The coconut tree provides food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many other uses. Copra is the dried meat of the seed and after processing produces coconut oil and coconut meal. AGRI INFO - My Agriculture Information Bank, Importance, Composition and Uses of Coconut. As an abrasive,[156] a dried half coconut shell with husk can be used to buff floors. [62] The two groups are genetically distinct, with the dwarf variety showing a greater degree of artificial selection for ornamental traits and for early germination and fruiting. Mature coconuts, ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, 300450 mm (1218 inches) in length and 150200 mm (68 inches) in diameter, have a thick fibrous husk surrounding the familiar single-seeded nut of commerce. They are ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions and are a cultural icon of the tropics. Miami is the only city outside of Greenwich, Connecticut, where the organization hosts an event. It enables toxins to be removed easily from harmful substances. A recently discovered palm, Beccariophoenix alfredii from Madagascar, is nearly identical to the coconut, more so than the queen palm and can also be grown in slightly cooler climates than the coconut palm. Coconut oil is a "functional food" that is popular in traditional medicine in Asia and used worldwide to treat a wide variety of health problems from abscesses to upset stomachs. What is the economic importance of coconut? It is the dominant form in the Indo-Atlantic coconuts. [84] Modern methods use hydraulic elevators mounted on tractors or ladders. Nutrition Facts: Vegetable Oil, Coconut. [45] They are now almost ubiquitous between 26N and 26S except for the interiors of Africa and South America. Apart from the importance of copra and coconut oil which is widely used in the manufacture of soaps, hair oil, cosmetics and other value-added & industrial products, its husk is a source offibrewhich supports a sizable coir industry. The traditional coconut farming in these countries is an integral part of their life, culture and identity. Coconut water can be drunk fresh or used in cooking as in binakol. The export of spices generates foreign exchange earnings of Rs. In 2007, the Philippines imposed a quarantine in Metro Manila and 26 provinces to stop the spread of the pest and protect the Philippine coconut industry managed by some 3.5million farmers.[75]. It takes around 6,000 full-grown coconuts to produce one tonne of copra. In Johann Vollmann and Istvan Rajcan (Eds.). Coconut water is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when consumed as a drink. They have a thick fibrous husk surrounding the single-seeded nut. [4], Coconuts can also be broadly divided into two general types based on habit: the "Tall" (var. The study contended that an adaptation to coral atolls would explain the prehistoric and modern distributions of Cocos, would have provided the necessary evolutionary pressures, and would account for morphological factors such as a thick husk to protect against ocean degradation and provide a moist medium in which to germinate on sparse atolls. ", "Structure and Function of the Haustorim in Germinating Coconut Palm Seed", "Fossil fruit of Cocos L. (Arecaceae) from Maastrichtian-Danian sediments of central India and its phytogeographical significance", "An update of monocot macrofossil data from New Zealand and Australia", "A Fossil Coconut Fruit from the Early Eocene of Gujarat", "Long-distance dispersal of the coconut palm by migration within the coral atoll ecosystem", "Independent Origins of Cultivated Coconut (, "Ancient crops provide first archaeological signature of the westward Austronesian expansion", "Coconuts: not indigenous, but quite at home nevertheless", "An early sophisticated East Polynesian voyaging canoe discovered on New Zealand's coast", "Germination rate is the significant characteristic determining coconut palm diversity", "Deep history of coconuts decoded: Origins of cultivation, ancient trade routes, and colonization of the Americas", "Complete sequence and comparative analysis of the chloroplast genome of coconut palm (, The Coconut Odyssey the bounteous possibilities of the tree of life, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, "Report: 26 provinces quarantined for coconut pest", "Coconut production in 2019, Crops/Regions/World list/Production Quantity (pick lists)", "Petenes mangroves: types and severity of threats", "Health of coconut tree climbers of rural southern India medical emergencies, body mass index and occupational marks: A quantitative and survey study", "Philippine coconut industry: No monkey business here", "The Chemistry of Coconut Milk and Cream", "New mechanical coconut climbing device developed", "A study on skills for trade and economic diversification (STED) in the non-traditional coconut export sectors of the Philippines". and early germination on the palm (vivipary) was important. Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime. Mature coconuts are ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, 3045 cm (1218 inches) in length and 1520 cm (68 inches) in diameter. HE Moore Jr, NW Uhl. The Coconut tree belongs to the palm family. Efficient utilisation of resources: Fruit production allows for more efficient resource utilisation because it is a perennial crop, allowing growers to remain actively involved in farm operations throughout the year and to utilise all available resources and assets such as machinery, labour and land for production purposes throughout the year, as opposed to agronomic crops. Elzebroek, A.T.G. [76], Coconut palms are normally cultivated in hot and wet tropical climates. (April 2006). It kills bacteria in the mouth and reduces bad breath. Malauhog has a "solid" sound when tapped, while Malakanin and Malakatad produce a "hollow" sound. Macapuno is a coconut variety with a jelly-like coconut meat. The various parts of the coconut have a number of culinary uses. The importance of the coconut in Austronesian cultures is evidenced by shared terminology of even very specific parts and uses of coconuts, which were carried outwards from the Philippines during the Austronesian migrations. Neera is fast becoming a popular drink. Coconut oil is one of nine internationally traded vegetable oils and ranks eighth in global production. Economic Role Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates.