Yet, its high in calories and saturated fat, so you should eat it in moderation. It allows toxins to be thrown out of stomach. The Hindu goddess of well-being and wealth, Lakshmi, is often shown holding a coconut. Coconut palms require warm conditions for successful growth, and are intolerant of cold weather. Coconut is the most versatile tree in the world and is known as "the tree of life". In the Philippines, this alcoholic drink is called lambanog (historically also called vino de coco in Spanish) or "coconut vodka". However, both James Cook and William Bligh[69] (put adrift after the Bounty mutiny) found no sign of the nuts along this 2,000km (1,200mi) stretch when he needed water for his crew. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut for nutrition and trade. Predominantly, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, . Climbing is the most widespread, but it is also more dangerous and requires skilled workers. Nor were there coconuts on the east side of the African coast until Vasco da Gama, nor in the Caribbean when first visited by Christopher Columbus. In particular, the area around Salalah maintains large coconut plantations similar to those found across the Arabian Sea in Kerala. Several countries' economies are based on the coconut palm. It is still the largest producer of coconut oil and copra, accounting for 64% of the global production. [49][50], Genetic studies of coconuts have also confirmed pre-Columbian populations of coconuts in Panama in South America. Virgin coconut oil (VCO), extracted from fresh coconut kernel using the cold press method, that produces the finest and purest grade coconut oil with maximum retention of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants, thus making it the mother of all oils. "Effects of coconut oil on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats". Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Division. It is sweet and high in nutritional value. Coconut oil and milk are ingredients in cooking, frying, soaps and cosmetics, and foods like margarine and popcorn. This invertebrate builds armor from coconut halves", "Indonesia's veined octopus 'stilt walks' to collect coconut shells", "Coconut Fruit Of Lustre In Indian Culture", "How the Zulu coconut was saved from extinction", "Living Heritage Marcellin College Sina and the Eel", "The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman The Arabian Nights The Thousand and One Nights Sir Richard Burton translator", Coconut revival new possibilities for the 'tree of life', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coconut&oldid=1136466340, Mean daily temperature above 1213C (5455F) every day of the year, Mean annual rainfall above 1,000mm (39in). These skilled, unpaid laborers can pick hundreds of coconuts daily. of tender .coconut and is used as refreshing and agreeable drink and as a useful substitute for saline glucose in intravenous infusion. These two forms are referred to by the Samoan terms niu kafa for the elongated wild coconuts, and niu vai for the rounded domesticated Pacific coconuts. It contains less than 3% of the original moisture content of coconut meat. [111], Coconut oil is increasingly used in the food industry. [45], Modern genetic studies have identified the center of origin of coconuts as being the Central Indo-Pacific, the region between western Southeast Asia and Melanesia, where it shows greatest genetic diversity. Fancy utensil can be prepare from shell. Immature coconuts produce a sloshing sound when shaken (the sharper the sound, the younger it is), while fully mature coconuts do not. The coconut water strengthens your immune system and removes bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, gum diseases and viruses which are causing cold, infection diseases and typhus. The coir is used to make brooms in Cambodia.[158]. What are the economic importance of coconut? Pintonesia Trading Corp has served customers from all over the world and it has become our top priority to meet our customers satisfaction and expectations. [23] The root system consists of an abundance of thin roots that grow outward from the plant near the surface. (1995). Coconut is grown in more than 90 countries of the world and Indonesia, Philippines, India are the major producing countries of the world. The coconut palm is an important crop in many tropical countries, providing food products and raw materials for industries (Jones, 1991). Historical Developments in Biological Control Recent Advances. [85] Mechanical coconut climbing devices and even automated robots have also been recently developed in countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Copyright 2020 Deejay Coconut Farm Pvt Ltd | All Rights Reserved |, Scope for Coconut Cultivation and its National Importance, Four things you most likely didnt know about coconut hybridization. Coconut palms grow in the wet tropical and subtropical coastal Indian and Pacific ocean regions. The dried calyx is used as fuel in wood-fired stoves. VCO is extracted f rom the fresh , matur e coconut kernel mechanically with or without t he use of heat. Coconut palms are hard to establish in dry climates, and cannot grow there without frequent irrigation; in drought conditions, the new leaves do not open well, and older leaves may become desiccated; fruit also tends to be shed. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. The evolutionary origin of the coconut is under dispute, with theories stating that it may have evolved in Asia, South America, or on Pacific islands. Ans : Ripening is characterised by an increase in the breakdown of starch within the fruit, as well as an increase in the number of simple sugars that are sweet in taste such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose as a result of this breakdown. Neera is fast becoming a popular drink. 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. The "branches" (leaf petioles) are strong and flexible enough to make a switch. The terms are derived from the Samoan language and was adopted into scientific usage by Harries (1978). In the Philippines, dried half shells are also used as a music instrument in a folk dance called maglalatik. But research on them is still ongoing to determine which of them (if any) actually belong to the genus Cocos. It is also often stated that coconuts can travel 110 days, or 5,000km (3,000mi), by sea and still be able to germinate. [26][27] In Colombia, a single Cocos-like fruit was recovered from the middle to late Paleocene Cerrejn Formation. This variety of oilseeds made up over 10 percent of the sector that year. However, the locations of the admixture events are limited to Madagascar and coastal east Africa, and exclude the Seychelles. It is also popular in Indonesia (where it is known as kopyor) for making beverages. [101][102], Traditional areas of coconut cultivation in India are the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and, Gujarat and the islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar. He explained how at Guam "they eat coconuts" ("mangiano cochi") and that the natives there also "anoint the body and the hair with coconut and beniseed oil" ("ongieno el corpo et li capili co oleo de cocho et de giongioli"). Is eating coconut good for your skin? It is cultivated by about 11 million farmers on 12 million hectares; 80% of total production comes from Asia (Adkins et al., 2006). These allow the fruits to be more buoyant and makes it easier for them to lodge into sandy shorelines, making their shape ideal for ocean dispersal. These includes two specimens named "Cocos" palaeonucifera and "Cocos" binoriensis, both were dated by their authors to the MaastrichtianDanian of the early Tertiary (70 to 62 million years ago). It increases bold circulation in the kidneys and cause profuse dieresis. [citation needed], The two most common harvesting methods are the climbing method and the pole method. [89], Determining whether to harvest is also important. When left to ferment on its own, it becomes palm wine. Scientific studies have found it effective for treating enlarged prostate and improving serum cholesterol. This ritual, known as niniyogan, is an offering made to the deceased and one's ancestors. All of these introductions are within the last few centuries, relatively recent in comparison to the spread of Pacific coconuts.[49]. Drift models based on wind and ocean currents have shown that coconuts could not have drifted across the Pacific unaided. The various parts of the coconut have a number of culinary uses. The researchers concluded that it was brought by early Austronesian sailors to the Americas from at least 2,250 BP, and may be proof of pre-Columbian contact between Austronesian cultures and South American cultures. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, meaning "monkey face." A sugar containing juice which is obtained by tapping unopened spadix is known as toddy. Coconut withstands conditions considered marginal for many food crops and is a stabilizing factor in the farming systems of fragile environments. [140][141] It can also be fermented to produce a jelly-like dessert known as nata de coco. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Division. 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 tender nut supplies coconut water, a popular thirst quencher of health and hygienic value. The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut milk extracted from it, form a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Economic importance The palms with the greatest importance in world commerce are the coconut and the African oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis ); both are prime sources of vegetable oil and fat. [12], Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. The meat may also be grated and mixed with water to make coconut milk, which is used in cooking and as a substitute for cows milk. In Cambodia, the roots are used in traditional medicine as a treatment for dysentery. [95], The practice of using macaques to harvest coconuts was exposed in Thailand by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 2019, resulting in calls for boycotts on coconut products. Want this question answered? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Coconut Research Center. [82][78][83] Other manual methods to make climbing easier include using a system of pulleys and ropes; using pieces of vine, rope, or cloth tied to both hands or feet; using spikes attached to the feet or legs; or attaching coconut husks to the trunk with ropes. [7][8][9] Given proper care and growing conditions, coconut palms produce their first fruit in six to ten years, taking 15 to 20 years to reach peak production. Coconut is a crop of small and marginal farmers since 98% of about five million coconut holdings in the country are less than two hectares. Coconuts are commonly grown around the northern coast of Australia, and in some warmer parts of New South Wales. The haustorium absorbs the solid endosperm to nourish the seedling. It contains acids like ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C), nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3 and vitamin PP) and riboflavin (vitamin B2). Coconut Oil May Help Treat Acne Because coconut oil and its components may help reduce inflammation in the body, it may also aid in the treatment of acne. [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. [145] They can also be processed to extract palm sugar. The meat can be eaten fresh from the coconut but the meat can also be used to make oil, milk, cream and desiccated coconut. In Thailand, the coconut husk is used as a potting medium to produce healthy forest tree saplings. It is a haustorium, a spongy absorbent tissue formed from the distal portion of embryo during coconut germination, facilitates absorption of nutrients for the growing shoot and root.[142]. A young, well-maintained tree can produce around 300 litres (79 US gallons) of toddy per year, while a 40-year-old tree may yield around 400L (110USgal). Numerous other dwarf cultivars also developed as the initial dwarf cultivar was introduced to other regions and hybridized with various tall cultivars. In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore and Tirupur regions top the production list. Dried coconut leaves can be burned to ash, which can be harvested for lime. It is known as a bunot in the Philippines and simply a "coconut brush" in Jamaica. [1] The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut")[2] can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut. 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 edible white, fleshy part of the seed (the endosperm) is known as the "coconut meat", "coconut flesh", or "coconut kernel. They can also be cooked in sugar and eaten as a dessert in the Philippines known as bukayo.[117][123][124][125][126]. The sap derived from incising the flower clusters of the coconut is drunk as toddy, also known as tub in the Philippines (both fermented and fresh), tuak (Indonesia and Malaysia), karewe (fresh and not fermented, collected twice a day, for breakfast and dinner) in Kiribati, and neera in South Asia. Traditional Training of Pig-tailed Macaques as Coconut HarvestersM Bertrand; Science; Jan 1967. There are currently two major viewpoints on the origins of the genus Cocos, one in the Indo-Pacific, and another in South America. Palm wine is distilled to produce arrack. Plants are intolerant of cold weather and prefer copious precipitation, as well as full sunlight. The young coconut plants need to be nursed and irrigated with drip pipes until they are old enough (stem bulb development) to be irrigated with brackish water or seawater alone, after which they can be replanted on the beaches. Which Is Healthier Refined Or Unrefined Coconut Oil? He took the term from the Arabs, who called it jawz hind, translating to 'Indian nut'. [150] Its chronic consumption may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases by raising total blood cholesterol levels through elevated blood levels of LDL cholesterol and lauric acid. [175], The coconut is also used as a target and prize in the traditional British fairground game coconut shy. 50 % of existing coconut palms have passed their economic bearing age (60 years) and are due for replanting, around 900 million coconut seedlings are required at a value of USD$ 2.7 Billion to secure a sustainable future for the global coconut estate. Neera has a low glycemic count at 35 compared to cane sugar or sugarcane juice that has a glycemic count of 80. 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. Partially defatted edible coconut grating is an excellent product and used in bakery and confectionary. During germination, the embryo pushes out of the functional pore and forms a haustorium (the coconut sprout) inside the central cavity. However, it is not native and displays a genetic bottleneck resulting from a founder effect. [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. As part of the activities, there was a two-day conference aimed at re-educating Guyanese about the diverse benefits of the coconut fruit focusing on its economic diversification and multipurpose use, while heightening awareness and boosting the local Agro-tourism sector. [112] Proteins from coconut may cause food allergy, including anaphylaxis. These are grown for recreational purposes or as an income generator. . As of 2006, the U. Coconut is a crop of small and marginal farmers since 98% of about five million coconut holdings in the country are less than two hectares. The dry husk yields coir, a fibre highly resistant to salt water and used in the manufacture of ropes, mats, baskets, brushes, and brooms. According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, the coconut and African oil palms have important roles in international trade as sources of vegetable oil and fat. [58] Coconuts also need high humidity (at least 7080%) for optimum growth, which is why they are rarely seen in areas with low humidity. It is a tree that is cultivated for its multiple utilities, mainly for its nutritional and medicinal values. In Kerala, coconut trunks are used for house construction. According to the Just Change Trust in India, over 500 million coconut palms are cultivated in tropical regions, where coconuts are the prime source of fats and protein for more than 400 million people. It forms the basis of wedding and worship rituals in Hinduism. They need annual rainfall of at least 120cm, temperatures from 70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit and sandy, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. In fact, the toning property of coconut helps in preventing acne by minimizing the pores of the skin, leaving it glowing. Fishermen give an offering of coconut to the sea to celebrate the beginning of a new fishing season. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 59 (7): 995. The boiled young seedlings of Borassus flabellifer palmyra palm are edible and its fruits are eaten raw. In large amounts, coconut water might cause potassium levels in the blood to become too high. Theyre mostly green until they fully mature. Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. They also include fossil fruits that have been tentatively identified as modern Cocos nucifera. Hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss in men and women, and it is the most common cause of hair loss in women. The coconut oil is in great demand for edible purposes, for soap making toilet preparation. [59], Coconuts today can be grouped into two highly genetically distinct subpopulations: the Indo-Atlantic group originating from southern India and nearby regions (including Sri Lanka, the Laccadives, and the Maldives); and the Pacific group originating from the region between maritime Southeast Asia and Melanesia. It also promotes scalp health by fighting against insect bite, lice and dandruff. Micronutrients in significant content (more than 10% of the Daily Value) include the dietary minerals, manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc (table). (2009), assigned it to Cocos based on the size and the ridged shape of the fruit. [26][27][31], Outside of New Zealand and India, only two other regions have reported Cocos-like fossils, namely Australia and Colombia. The husks can be used as flotation devices. [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. Perera, Lalith, Suriya A.C.N. The coconut tree provides food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many other uses. Such an origin indicates that the coconuts were not introduced naturally, such as by sea currents. Coconut plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. What happens when you drink coconut water for 7 days? [90], A system of bamboo bridges and ladders directly connecting the tree canopies are also utilized in the Philippines for coconut plantations that harvest coconut sap (not fruits) for coconut vinegar and palm wine production. : B.arenosella, B.atriloqua (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), B.mathesoni (feeds exclusively on C.nucifera), and B. Coconut plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. Food Industry Coconut is known as a common ingredient in food processing. Rajamohan T. Clinical Biochemistry. In addition to the traditional products of copra, coconut oil and copra meal, coconut has the unique advantage of producing a wide variety of food and environment friendly non-food products which are used both domestically and for a global export market. [79][80][81], To avoid this, coconuts workers in the Philippines and Guam traditionally use bolos tied with a rope to the waist to cut grooves at regular intervals on the coconut trunks. [33], Coconuts are susceptible to the phytoplasma disease, lethal yellowing. Lately, civil wars and crop failures have driven up the EU Rotterdam coconut oil price, which has doubled during 2010-2011, nearing $2,000 per tonne, according to the UK Grocer. Economic Role Coconut palms yield roughly 20 percent of the market's oils and fats, Just Change Trust estimates. The length of the coconut tree is also considerable.