World Coconut Day

World Coconut Day is observed on 2nd September every year since its establishment in 2009. The day is celebrated to focus on coconut farming and also to commemorate the formation day of the Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).

The APCC has 18 coconut-producing member countries accounting for over 90% of world coconut production and exports of coconut products. The APCC member countries include Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Jamaica and Kenya are associate member countries of the APCC.

Coconut is one of the wonderful food on the earth that have all the essential nutrients and multiple health benefits. It is also referred to as Kalpa Vriksha in Sanskrit meaning the tree that supplies all that is needed to live. Coconuts are not really nuts, they’re stone fruits, aka drupes, and they grow in the tropics and subtropics, sharing their life-giving properties through their milk, their flesh, their oil, their buoyancy, their flammable shells, everything. So let’s take a moment and celebrate these remarkable drupes.

India stands first in global coconut production and productivity. The annual coconut production of India is 2437.80 crore and the productivity is 11616 coconuts per hectare. World Coconut Day is very famous in western India, in the union territories of Daman and Diu, and in the neighboring state of Maharashtra and is celebrated till the end of the rainy season. India has started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Till last year, India used to import coconut oil from these countries, and for the first time, India has exported a large quantity of dry coconut to US and European countries.

The festivity is designed as a celebration aimed at creating awareness about the significance of coconut and its importance in easing scarcity. It is also aimed at encouraging investment and developing and promoting the coconut industry. The coconut holds an auspicious place in the religious and cultural life of Indians. The “Shrifal” is offered not only to the gods in religious rituals but also to exchange hands during important social functions such as marriage and naming ceremonies.

As a primal symbol of creation, the coconut is truly a symbolism of selfless sacrifice. Rightly called the “Tree of Life”, every part of the coconut tree can be used. The coconut is also imbued with medicinal qualities and being an eco-friendly crop it facilitates sustainable development.

Coconut in Medicine

People from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Wherever the coconut palm grows the people have learned of its importance as an effective medicine. For thousands of years, coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine.

Since coconut has strong antioxidant properties and health benefits it can be used to get the following benefits.

To Lower cholesterol level
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It helps to Improve digestion
Remove wrinkles from your skin
To Maintain glucose levels
Fight against viruses
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Helps to regulate hormones
Helps in weight lose
To increase metabolism
Battle illnesses
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Helps to fight against memory loss
Killing bacteria
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Helps control dandruff
Has no harmful or discomforting side effects
Is completely non-toxic to humans

Coconut based products

Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called “The Tree of Life.” Some of the popular coconut-based products are.