She earned her B.A. [102], Coconut milk, not to be confused with coconut water, is obtained by pressing the grated coconut meat, usually with hot water added which extracts the coconut oil, proteins, and aromatic compounds. Coconut water can be fermented to produce coconut vinegar. [49], In contrast to the Pacific coconuts, Indo-Atlantic coconuts were largely spread by Arab and Persian traders into the East African coast. The coconut is a versatile and valuable crop, with a range of uses that contribute to both local and global economies. Due to the performance of coconut in the economy as the major source of income, it is considered as a predictor of the general economic activity of the country. Coconut oil has high world demand as an ingredient in cosmetics, soaps, hair oils, body oils and in food products and has surged in popularity because of its health benefits. Later, the endosperm matures and deposits onto the coconut rind during the cellular phase. [125] These can be toasted or baked to make bacon-like fixings. of tender .coconut and is used as refreshing and agreeable drink and as a useful substitute for saline glucose in intravenous infusion. [49][50], Genetic studies of coconuts have also confirmed pre-Columbian populations of coconuts in Panama in South America. Scientific studies have found it effective for treating enlarged prostate and improving serum cholesterol. [109] The production of coconuts is the main source of Sri Lanka economy, with 12% of cultivated land and 409,244 hectares used for coconut growing (2017). These vary by the taste of the coconut water and color of the fruit, as well as other genetic factors. The shells of the coconut can also be used to create charcoal, which has a variety of industrial and domestic uses. They provided a portable source of both food and water, allowing Austronesians to survive long sea voyages to colonize new islands as well as establish long-range trade routes. Coconut is grown in more than20.88 lakhha in the country with an estimated22167.45 million nuts during 2015-16with an average productivity of10614 nuts per ha. Its versatility and value make it an important commodity that continues to play a vital role in the economic development of many countries around the world. Composition and Uses: The following products of coconut are useful to human being. Harvesting and Yield in Lucerne Cultivation, Important Problems of Coconut Cultivation, Farming Systems & Sustainable Agriculture, Breeding of Field and Horticultural Crops agriculture information, Fundamentals to Entomology agriculture information, Production Techniques for Biological Control Agents, Practicals on Technology of Milk & Milk Products agriculture information, Economics of Natural Resources & Farm Management agriculture information. Coir Developments Much of coir production is done by small holders meaning production is scattered and at small volumes. The coir is used to make brooms in Cambodia.[158]. Because of its properties that reduce appetite and boost metabolism, coconut oil can help in losing fat in the long term. Rigby (1995) assigned them to modern Cocos nucifera based on its size. [72] Yellowing diseases affect plantations in Africa, India, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Pacific Region. [184], In March 1521, a description of the coconut was given by Antonio Pigafetta writing in Italian and using the words "cocho"/"cochi", as recorded in his journal after the first European crossing of the Pacific Ocean during the Magellan circumnavigation and meeting the inhabitants of what would become known as Guam and the Philippines. Many insect pests and diseases affect the species and are a nuisance for commercial production. [4], Coconuts can also be broadly divided into two general types based on habit: the "Tall" (var. The Philippines and Indonesia lead in copra production, and throughout the South Pacific copra is one of the most important export products. [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". Coconut copra, used to make coconut oil, is prepared at the coconut farms, using very simple techniques and taken to large scale oil mills through a complex and speculative marketing system. Coconut is the most versatile tree in the world and is known as "the tree of life". Aids in hydration. [132] Coconut milk can be diluted to create coconut milk beverages. [14][15], The interior of the endocarp is hollow and is lined with a thin brown seed coat around 0.2mm (164in) thick. It was first developed for commercial cultivation in the Philippines and is used widely in Philippine cuisine for desserts, drinks, and pastries. All rights reserved. [185], This article is about the plant. Although it shares similar characteristics to dwarf coconuts (including slow growth), it is genetically distinct and is thus believed to be independently domesticated, likely in Tonga. Coconut assumes considerable significance in the national economy of coconut-growing countries in view of rural employment and income generation. . The meat can be eaten fresh from the coconut but the meat can also be used to make oil, milk, cream and desiccated coconut. Various other products made from thickened coconut milk with sugar and/or eggs like coconut jam and coconut custard are also widespread in Southeast Asia. The Coconut Palm (Cocos Nucifera L.) is referred as The Tree of Life due to its incredible value to man and the incredible number of products and by-products that can be created from it. It provides the hair with natural shine and softness. [153], The husk and shells can be used for fuel and are a source of charcoal. This is in line with our tagline, Office : Per 100-gram serving, coconut water contains 19 calories and no significant content of essential nutrients. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. "Effects of coconut oil on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats". Indo-Atlantic coconuts were also introduced into the Atlantic Ocean by Portuguese ships from their colonies in coastal India and Sri Lanka; first being introduced to coastal West Africa, then onwards into the Caribbean and the east coast of Brazil. [24], The palm produces both the female and male flowers on the same inflorescence; thus, the palm is monoecious. 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." This type of root system is known as fibrous or adventitious, and is a characteristic of grass species. Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm. Home Fruits What Is The Importance Of Coconut? [178] In Maldivian folklore, one of the main myths of origin reflects the dependence of the Maldivians on the coconut tree. The coconut is also a popular ingredient in many types of cuisine, including Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Caribbean dishes. [98][99][100], Two important coconut products were first developed in the Philippines, macapuno and nata de coco. [23] The root system consists of an abundance of thin roots that grow outward from the plant near the surface. Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. The process of husk extraction from the coir bypasses the retting process, using a custom-built coconut husk extractor designed by ASEANCanada Forest Tree Seed Centre in 1986. Economic Role Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the markets oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. The aim is to knock a coconut off the stand and win it. 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. Apical buds of adult plants are edible, and are known as "palm cabbage" or heart of palm. "It made sense" to bring the affair to . Severe frost is usually fatal, although they have been known to recover from temperatures of 4C (25F). In the Hainuwele myth from Maluku, a girl emerges from the blossom of a coconut tree. Adkins S.W., M. Foale and Y.M.S. Malakanin (literally "cooked rice-like") refers to young coconut meat (around 78 months old) which has a more opaque white appearance, a soft texture similar to cooked rice, and can still be easily scraped off the coconut shell. The fats in the coconut minimize the pores that attract dirt and bacteria and prevent skin from getting damaged. [92][93][94] Training schools for pig-tailed macaques still exist both in southern Thailand and in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. They control formation and circulation of fats in body. Omani people needed the coir rope from the coconut fiber to stitch together their traditional seagoing dhow vessels in which nails were never used. Tempurung, as the shell is called in the Malay language, can be used as a soup bowl and if fixed with a handle a ladle. Consumers feel that fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are the healthiest formats available for processed fruits and vegetables, which has allowed the fresh-cut category to prosper. It supplies food, drink and shelter and also supplies raw material to number of industries intimately connected with domestic as well as economic life. The terminology is derived from the Tagalog language. Coconut fruit in the wild are light, buoyant, and highly water resistant. [173] In the foothills of the temple town of Palani, before going to worship Murugan for the Ganesha, coconuts are broken at a place marked for the purpose. Nevin KG. Because the nuts can fall from a height of 30 yards, in Southern Asia and Australia, monkeys (e.g., Malaya macaques) are trained to harvest them. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is eaten as is or used as an ingredient in various dishes. This pattern coincides with the known trade routes of Austronesian sailors. This basically turns the trunk of the tree into a ladder, though it reduces the value of coconut timber recovered from the trees and can be an entry point for infection. "The potential of the Coconut Industry is huge and benefits are available for parties from all sectors. Add an answer. The importance of coconut palmoil subsequently decreased due to competition from other vegetable oils, particularly palm oil from Elaeis guineensis. The inner posterior tepal is completely outside. [49][4][48][60], The coconut played a critical role in the migrations of the Austronesian peoples. [57] If they were naturally distributed and had been in the Pacific for a thousand years or so, then we would expect the eastern shore of Australia, with its own islands sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef, to have been thick with coconut palms: the currents were directly into, and down along this coast. It supplies food, drink and shelter and also supplies raw material to number of industries intimately connected with domestic as well as economic life. It is predominantly used in the bakery and confectionary industries (especially in non-coconut-producing countries) because of its longer shelf life compared to freshly grated coconut. C. binoriensis has been claimed by their authors to be the earliest known fossil of Cocos nucifera. (2009). [18][19][20] Dried coconut is also used as the filling for many chocolate bars. Be notified when an answer is posted. In Vanuatu, coconut palms for copra production are generally spaced 9m (30ft) apart, allowing a tree density of 100 to 160 per hectare (40 to 65 per acre). The original one is held each October in Greenwich. Coconut withstands conditions considered marginal for many food crops and is a stabilizing factor in the farming systems of fragile environments. de Lourdes Arruzazabala, M.; Molina, V.; Ms, R.; Carbajal, D.; Marrero, D.; Gonzlez, V.; Rodrguez, E. (2007). Drift models based on wind and ocean currents have shown that coconuts could not have drifted across the Pacific unaided. [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. : B.arenosella, B.atriloqua (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), B.mathesoni (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), and B. This article was most recently revised and updated by. One recently selected cultivar, the 'Maypan', has been bred for resistance to this disease. What's Funny About The Business Of Monkeys Picking Coconuts? What is the economic importance of coconut? Though safer and faster than the climbing method, its main disadvantage is that it does not allow workers to examine and clean the crown of coconuts for pests and diseases.