Coconut - production & trade

Coconut palms have been called the 'tree of life' because of the huge variety of uses. They are cultivated throughout the tropics for fibre and fuel, but are best known as a food. They are also the seventh most important vegetable oil crop in the world.

Cultivation

India is the third largest producer of coconuts. In 2003 over 9 million tons were grown on an area covering almost 2 million hectares. Cultivation in South Asia is manly confined to the southern and coastal areas. Almost all of it is consumed within India. Pakistan and Bangladesh produce much smaller quantities.

Plantations are usually created by planting seeds. Initially they are kept in germination beds until the first leaf unfolds. Once this happens, they are planted out in neat rows in fields.

Harvesting and processing

The first flowers can appear from two to seven years depending on the cultivar and the coconuts can be harvested about a year after this. Coconuts are the most important part of the palm and are usually harvested by nimble tree climbers who cut ripe bunches down.

Historical gouche painting on paper painting of coconut collector in India.

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Image: Tree climbers require skill and courage to ascend the trunks of palms to cut down coconuts.

Fallen fruits are also gathered from the ground or might be cut from palms using knives attached to long bamboo poles. Coconut palms can remain productive for 50 to 100 years, though yields are highest at between about 10 and 20 years.

Harvested coconuts are stored until the fibrous husks are completely dry. Then they are dehusked by striking and twisting onto a steel spike that is placed firmly in the ground. This fibre is used to make coir. For desiccated coconut, coconut cream, oils and other processed forms, shells of coconuts are split with a hatchet of knife and the white meat is removed. Oil is made from copra which is the dried meat of the coconut and can be milled to produce cake or oil used in cosmetic, industrial and medicinal products. It is a source of lauric acid used to make common detergents like soaps, though it's facing increasing competition from other oils on the world market. The shells are used for all manner of utensils, vessels, carvings and even charcoal.