WORLD COCONUT DAY

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.