They can also be cooked in sugar and eaten as a dessert in the Philippines known as bukayo.[117][123][124][125][126]. HE Moore Jr, NW Uhl. [27][29][30] Conran et al. The oil cakeis used to feed cattle.and poultry. In particular, the area around Salalah maintains large coconut plantations similar to those found across the Arabian Sea in Kerala. One recently selected cultivar, the 'Maypan', has been bred for resistance to this disease. [49][4][48][60], The coconut played a critical role in the migrations of the Austronesian peoples. Palm. (2009). Gasa suggested, for lack of paper, delivering by dugout canoe a message inscribed on a husked coconut shell, reading Nauru Isl commander / native knows posit / he can pilot / 11 alive need small boat / Kennedy.[159] This coconut was later kept on the president's desk, and is now in the John F. Kennedy Library. It provides the hair with natural shine and softness. It is used for cooking various dishes. [26][27] The vast majority of Cocos-like fossils have been recovered generally from only two regions in the world: New Zealand and west-central India. In the west coast of India, the palm is an essential component in the homestead system of farming. They grow best near sea level, within 15 degrees of the Equator. Coconut water is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when consumed as a drink. The decreased buoyancy and increased fragility of this spherical, thin-husked fruit would not matter for a species that had started to be dispersed by humans and grown in plantations. [130], A special cultivar of coconut known as macapuno produces a large amount of jelly-like coconut meat. These provide substantial circumstantial evidence that deliberate Austronesian voyagers were involved in carrying coconuts across the Pacific Ocean and that they could not have dispersed worldwide without human agency. The coconut is also an important economic resource for the production of fiber and other materials. Linguistic, archaeological, and genetic evidence all point to the early domestication of Pacific coconuts by the Austronesian peoples in maritime Southeast Asia during the Austronesian expansion (c.3000 to 1500BCE). [27] Coconut is grown in more than 90 countries of the world and Indonesia, Philippines, India are the major producing countries of the world. Coir Developments Much of coir production is done by small holders meaning production is scattered and at small volumes. (2006). econom y of Sri Lanka. Most less-developed countries depend on agriculture as a major source of income and employment. Cocos-like fossils of fruits include "Cocos" intertrappeansis, "Cocos" pantii, and "Cocos" sahnii. What are the importance of coconut and its different uses? Coconut requires low to no inputs within an existing land use area unchanged in 100 years. The coconut palm is an important crop in many tropical countries, providing food products and raw materials for industries (Jones, 1991). Request Answer. [140][141] It can also be fermented to produce a jelly-like dessert known as nata de coco. [23] However, there is some evidence that it may be polygamomonoecious and may occasionally have bisexual flowers. 37(9):830-5, 2004. Coconut palms require warm conditions for successful growth, and are intolerant of cold weather. [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. What are 10 uses for a coconut? (2015), however, suggests that their diversity in New Zealand indicate that they evolved endemically, rather than being introduced to the islands by long-distance dispersal. The UAE has, however, imposed strict laws on mature coconut tree imports from other countries to reduce the spread of pests to other native palm trees, as the mixing of date and coconut trees poses a risk of cross-species palm pests, such as rhinoceros beetles and red palm weevils. 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. A coconut can be hollowed out and used as a home for a rodent or small birds. The liquids inside of a coconut are available as Shredded sweetened coconut 100g 500 calories 48g carbs 43g sugar 35g fat 4. [49][50], Genetic studies of coconuts have also confirmed pre-Columbian populations of coconuts in Panama in South America. Immature coconuts produce a sloshing sound when shaken (the sharper the sound, the younger it is), while fully mature coconuts do not. Only a few of the roots penetrate deep into the soil for stability. Coconut plantations can provide wildlife and habitat conservation economic buffer zones. Additionally, a genetically distinct subpopulation of coconut on the Pacific coast of Latin America has undergone a genetic bottleneck resulting from a founder effect; however, its ancestral population is the Pacific coconut from the Philippines. Because coconut milk and oil nourish skin, moisturizing, restorative, vitality to skin, has a radiant effect. 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). It is also used as a natural moisturizer, especially for winter. 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. Several countries economies are based on the coconut palm. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. What is the economic importance of coconut? Mature fruits have significantly less liquid than young, immature coconuts, barring spoilage. Traditionally, dessert banana plants and local wild beach flora such as Scaevola taccada and Ipomoea pes-caprae were used as humidity-supplying green undergrowth for coconut trees, mixed with sea almond and sea hibiscus. Coconut plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. A hard shell encloses the insignificant embryo with its abundant endosperm, composed of both meat and liquid. Encyclopaedia Brittanica online. Indonesia overtook it in 2010. [18][19][20] [174], The flowers are used sometimes in wedding ceremonies in Cambodia. [4], Coconuts can also be broadly divided into two general types based on habit: the "Tall" (var. [49][18][61], The niu kafa form is the wild ancestral type, with thick husks to protect the seed, an angular, highly ridged shape to promote buoyancy during ocean dispersal, and a pointed base that allowed fruits to dig into the sand, preventing them from being washed away during germination on a new island. In Asia, coconut shells are also used as bowls and in the manufacture of various handicrafts, including buttons carved from dried shell. Production is based in Southern Asia, Central and South America, Oceania and southern Africa; Asia accounts for 84 percent. Mature coconuts are ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, 3045 cm (1218 inches) in length and 1520 cm (68 inches) in diameter. Coconut (Cocos nucifera). 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. [49], In contrast to the Pacific coconuts, Indo-Atlantic coconuts were largely spread by Arab and Persian traders into the East African coast. One of the primary economic contributions of the coconut is as a source of food. In Florida, wild populations of coconut palms extend up the East Coast from Key West to Jupiter Inlet, and up the West Coast from Marco Island to Sarasota. (2008). 70% of the total coconut production is for domestic consumption in most producing countries making Coconut a critical global food security crop. Rajamohan T. Clinical Biochemistry. 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 aim is to knock a coconut off the stand and win it. (January 27, 1967). (1993). Aids in hydration. Its meat fills the entire interior of the coconut shell, rather than just the inner surfaces. Saturday &Sunday CLOSED, Hybrid Coconut seedlings, Deejay Sampoorna. 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. [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. It is also popular in Indonesia (where it is known as kopyor) for making beverages. Few plants are as versatile as the coconut. The ancient coconut groves of Dhofar were mentioned by the medieval Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta in his writings, known as Al Rihla. Coconut oil is moisturizing and has been used for centuries as a hair tonic and skin care product. The husks of the coconut are a source of coir, a fiber used in the production of brushes, matting, and other products. Coconut is an important food crop produced worldwide and is a palm family member. 2,0004,000 adventitious roots may grow, each about 1cm (12in) large. About 75% of the world's supply of coconuts is produced by Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. Man cannot subsist solely on cereal grains. [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. Coconut is taken by mouth for bladder stones, diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight loss. 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." It was first developed for commercial cultivation in the Philippines and is used widely in Philippine cuisine for desserts, drinks, and pastries. 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. Copra is the dried meat of the seed and after processing produces coconut oil and coconut meal. Corrections? As of 2006, the U.S. annually imported 190 million pounds of coconut oil, whose worldwide trade reached $20 million. [70] In the Hawaiian Islands, the coconut is regarded as a Polynesian introduction, first brought to the islands by early Polynesian voyagers (also Austronesians) from their homelands in the southern islands of Polynesia.[39]. Frison, E.A. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. These varieties were selected for slower growth, sweeter coconut water, and often brightly-colored fruits. Perera, Lalith, Suriya A.C.N. [citation needed] They are also used in Hindu weddings as a symbol of prosperity. What is the economic importance of coconut? Rigby (1995) assigned them to modern Cocos nucifera based on its size. Besides, the stem is used for construction of houses and leaves are used for thatching, fencing and making baskets and broomsticks. The coconut was a critical food item for the people of Polynesia, and the Polynesians brought it with them as they spread to new islands.[170]. [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. This results in the naked coconut "shell" with three pores more familiar in countries where coconuts are not grown locally. Salunkhe, D.K., J.K. Chavan, R.N. 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. They are considered a rare delicacy, as harvesting the buds kills the palms. Perera, Champa K. Bandaranayake and Hugh C. Harries. What happens to your body if you drink coconut water everyday? It is further strengthened by other similar botanical evidence of contact, like the pre-colonial presence of sweet potato in Oceanian cultures. Coconut oil and milk are ingredients in cooking, frying, soaps and cosmetics, and foods like margarine and popcorn. The endocarp or shell is used for fuel for making shell charcoal, activated carbon etc. Malauhog (literally "mucus-like") refers to very young coconut meat (around 6 to 7 months old) which has a translucent appearance and a gooey texture that disintegrates easily. Chan, Edward and Craig R. Elevitch. HE Moore Jr, NW Uhl. In the Malay language, it is pokok seribu guna ("the tree of a thousand uses"). In the Philippines, dried half shells are also used as a music instrument in a folk dance called maglalatik. Studies have shown that coconut oil can help in significant reduction in belly fat. Coconut oil and milk are ingredients in cooking, frying, soaps and cosmetics, and foods like margarine and popcorn. 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. Why Are There No Coconuts In North India?