Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC)
- Every year September 2 is celebrated as World Coconut Day to commemorate the formation day of APCC.
- It is an intergovernmental organization to promote and coordinate coconut developmental activities of the Asian Pacific region to achieve maximum economic development.
- It has 18-member countries with India being one of the founder members.
India and coconut production:
- 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.
- Export of coconuts:
- India has started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Till last year, India used to import coconut oil from these countries.
- For the first time, India is exporting large quantities of dry coconut to US and European countries.
- Programmes for coconut:
- Under National Horticulture Mission various aspirational schemes are being implemented for the integrated development of coconut in the country.
- The Coconut Development Board is implementing the Technology Mission on Coconut programme under which 480 coconut processing units have been established.
- It has also launched skill development initiatives in coconut sector viz. Friends of Coconut Tree (FOCT) Training Programme and Neera Technician training programme.
