The XLV COCOTECH meeting of the Asian & Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) is being held at Hotel Gateway, Marine Drive, Ernakulam, from 2nd to 6th July, 2012.
Along-side the meeting a COCONUT FESTIVAL providing opportunity to showcase various
value added products, technologies and machineries from member countries will also be arranged.
Being organized by APCC and the Government of India, as the host, under the auspices of the
Coconut Development Board, Union Ministry of Agriculture, the theme of the XLV COCOTECH
meeting is “Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development of the Coconut Industry”. Around 200
delegates, representing various countries, are expected to attend the international meeting. Apart from
APCC member countries, delegates from USA, Singapore and Brazil are attending the meeting.
The meeting will cover a comprehensive range of technical session/topics on the success
stories of model coconut farmers and small to medium scale coconut processors/entrepreneurs.
New technologies and research and development update on coconut based farming systems,
product diversification and coconut processing including the health attributes of coconut as well as
developments in marketing of coconut products are other important aspects likely to come up for
discussion.
The session also includes a one-day field visit on July 5 by delegates to model coconut farms,
coconut processing centers and interaction with progressive coconut growers from traditional coconut
growing states.
Issues and topics related to the global economic crisis, climate change as well as carbon credit
market will also be discussed at the meeting. Experts from the scientific and from the corporate sector
will address the meeting as resources persons.
About APCC
The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) is an intergovernmental organization
set up in 1969 under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). APCC), headquartered at Jakarta, Indonesia fulfils the mission to promote,
coordinate and harmonize coconut developmental activities of the Asian Pacific region to achieve
maximum economic development and for strengthening the regional cooperation among the coconut
producing countries. APCC stimulates regional cooperation across national boundaries.
.India is one of the founder members of the 18 nation Asian and Pacific Coconut Community
(APCC). Presently APCC has 16 regular member countries (Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji,
India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam) and 2 associate members
(Jamaica and Kenya).
COCOTECH is the permanent panel on coconut technology of APCC member countries
which is held in two years. The meeting provides a common platform for producers / progressive
farmers, processors, machinery manufacturers, exporters, other stake holders and scientist’s and
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research workers from member countries. The policy making body of APCC is the APCC session
which is held on each calendar year. India was the host for 2 APCC Sessions (in 1988 in Kochi and
2001 in Bangalore) and 2 COCOTECH meetings (in 1995 at Kochi and in 2000 at Chennai).
Vision and Mission
The vision of APCC is to improve the socio-economic conditions of the coconut growers,
processors, traders and all those who depend on this crop and crop based industries, in the member
countries through proper promotion, collaboration and harmonization of various coconut related
activities.
Its mission is to assist the member countries to develop, provide or exchange technologies for
the following mission mode programs to make the coconut industry vibrant in the years to come.
Increasing productivity
Reducing cost of production
Adopting integrated coconut based farming system
Encouraging organic farming
Promoting farm level processing
Promoting product diversification/ value addition and by-product utilization
Improving quality standards
Increasing market promotional activities, market survey and market research
Helping in trade related issues
Developing human resource for effective transfer of technology viz. transfer of good genetic
material / germ plasm of high yielding varieties of coconut / tender coconut varieties etc.
Membership
Developing countries which are state members within the geographical limits of Asia and
Pacific are eligible to become members of the Community. Its associate membership is open to
any dependent territory within the Asia and Pacific region and to developing countries out-side the
geographical limits of Asia and Pacific.
India was one among the first 3 signatories. Indonesia, Philippines and India signed the
Agreement on 12th December 1968. Ceylon, Thailand and Malaysia signed on 11th March, 26th
June and 30th June 1969 respectively. During its 13th session the nomenclature of the community
changed to Asian and Pacific Coconut Community. This regional grouping provides essential tools
for coordination, growth and understanding across national boundaries. Its long history of cooperation
and achievement has to its credit many incredible contributions to the coconut industry.
The Community is now composed of seventeen members namely; Federated States of
Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Jamaica
is an associate member of the APCC. These countries account for more than 90 per cent of the world
production and export of coconut products. APCC member countries produces more than 55 billion
nuts a year and export more than 33 million metric tonnes of coconut products including coir.
APCC Executive Director
Mr. Romulo N. Arancon, Jr., a Philippino, is the Executive Director of the Asian and Pacific
Coconut Community (APCC).
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India’s position in coconut production and the need to enhance value added products
Though India occupies a comfortable position in production and productivity of coconut,
when compared to other major coconut producing countries, we lag far behind in processing and
exports. In a small country like Sri Lanka whose production and productivity are less than that of
Tamil Nadu, the export of value added products is many fold of that of India (except in case of
activated carbon). This indicates that India has to go a long way in strengthening the processing
sector.
Regional disparities in production of coconut in India
Even though coconut is commercially produced in 18 states and 3 Union Territories,
differences exist in productivity of coconut in the county. Huge variations are observed in the
productivity from garden to garden, region to region and state to state. These productivity variations
are more pronounced in traditional states and older gardens which are predominantly occupied by
old and unproductive palms. The highest productivity of 19630 nuts or 1.963 MT of copra per ha is
recorded in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep whereas the productivity of major states; Karnataka.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are 5193, 7365, 13771 and 9327 nuts per ha respectively.
The fact that the higher productivity of coconut is often the result of multivariable inputs such as
high rate of investment in the form of adoption of scientific managements like proper application of
balanced fertilizers incorporating both chemical and organic manures, adoption of plant protection
measures, soil and water conservation and irrigation etc. Among all variables, the market stability
and remunerative farm gate price are the driving factors that determine consistency in production
and productivity of the farms especially in traditional coconut growing states. A slump or a trough
in the prices always results in less investment and neglect of the garden which in turn lead to low
productivity. Similarly crest in the price always lead to more investment for getting more production
and more income.
India’s position among 6 major coconut producing countries
India ranks first in the productivity of coconut in the world with an annual productivity
of 8303 nuts per ha. while in production India ranks second and in area, the country is in the third
position (2009). Indonesia ranks first in area under coconut as well as in global coconut production.
Malaysia imports coconut products equivalent to 1400 million nuts and exports coconut products
equivalent to 1200 million nuts.
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