World Coconut Day 2022 Celebrations

Shri.Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister inaugurated
the 24^th World Coconut Day celebrations of Coconut Development Board

IMG-20220902-WA0059(2).jpg

Press Release in Hindi Press Release in Malayalam Video link Full Video link

Shri.Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister also inaugurated the 6^th State Centre of Coconut Development Board at Junagadh, Gujarat

Kochi: Shri.Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister virtually inaugurated the 24th World Coconut Day celebrations and declared the National awards and Export Excellence Awards of the Board from Junagadh, Gujarat

While inaugurating the 6^th State Centre of the Board in Gujarat, the Minister said that the topography and the climatic conditions of Gujarat are very much congenial for growing coconut and the newly established state centre of the Board in Gujarat, which will definitely help in boosting the coconut cultivation in the state. He said that the state is having strong presence in the cultivation of coconut with around 25000 farmers. The state centre of the Board will support the coconut farmers by implementing various programmes of CDB and will provide guidance in scientific cultivation methods and processing and marketing of coconut. The Minister on behalf of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India congratulated all the Award winners of the Board and one again once assured the farmers that the opening of the State Centre of CDB office will definitely be a boon to the coconut farmers of Gujarat. Afterwards Hon’ble Agriculture minister addressed the farmers at Junagadh Agricultural University, Gujarat. 1000 coconut farmers attended the seminar on good agriculture practices.

Gujarat is the eighth largest producer of coconut in the country which has an area of 24997 ha under coconut cultivation, a production of 213.52 million nuts and a productivity of 8542 nuts per hectare. Districts like Kutch, Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath have recorded productivity more than the national average of 9430 nuts per hectare. Among the 33 districts, coconut is cultivated in 20 districts in Gujarat.

Dr. N Vijayalakshmi IAS, Chairperson, Coconut Development Board welcomed the gathering and spoke on the status of coconut cultivation and processing in the country. Dr. Jelfina C Alouw, Executive Director, International Coconut Community, Indonesia who further spoke on the occasion made a brief presentation on the activities of the International Coconut Community and highlighted the health aspects of various coconut products.

Shri.Rajendra Kumar Kataria IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Horticulture and Sericulture, Government of Karnataka also addressed the farmers during the occasion

Shri.K. Babu, Hon’ble MLA, Thripunithura who further spoke on the occasion stressed on the importance of coconut in the state and emphasized on the need for opening new avenues in the value addition of coconut for ensuring better remuneration to the farmers. Shri.Antony Assamparambil, Chairman, Maradu Muncipality, Shri.Siby Xavier, Councillor, Maradu Municipality, Shri.Narayanan Master, Vice Chairman of the Board, Shri.Reghunath, Member of the Board, other Board Members, international delegates, recipients of various awards, scientists and around 500 progressive farmers from across the country attended the programme. Shri.Rajeev Bhushan Prasad, Chief Coconut Development Officer proposed vote of thanks. An exhibition showcasing various value added coconut products was also held at the venue wherein Coconut Development Board, International Coconut Community, Kerala and Tamilnadu Agricultural Universities, CPCRI, entrepreneurs and quality certification agencies displayed their products and services.

The programme is followed by International Workshop on Good Agricultural Practices, organized jointly by Government of India and International Coconut Committee during 2-4 September 2022. Experts from over seven major coconut growing countries attended the International Workshop.

Smt. Y Padmavathi, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh received the award for the best coconut farmer of the country and Shri.K T Francis, Kozhikode, Kerala received the award for the best farmer from the south west region and Shri.Kikato Kinimi, Dimapur, Nagaland received the award for the best farmer from the east and North East region under large category. Smt.K. Chellammal, South Andaman, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pankaj Das, Kamrup, Assam received the award for the best farmer from the south west region east and North East region respectively under small category.

Smt. Deepa Anil Lal, Ernakulam, Kerala received the award for the Best coconut Processor under conventional Coconut Products category and Shri.D.N. Nirranjan Kani Salem, Tamilnadu received the award for the Best coconut Processor under non- conventional Coconut Products category.

Dr.M R Manikantan , CPCRI, Kasaragodu, Kerala received the award for the Best Research Worker under Findings on Coconut Product and Shri.Charles Vijay Varghese, Ernakulam, Kerala received the award for the Best Research Worker under Machinery / Equipment Development.

Shri.Dayalu K D , Ernakulam, Kerala and Shri Rathindra Nath Mallick, Kolkata, West Bengal received the award for the Best Master Craftsman under large scale category. Smt. Mala Kumari Verma, Munger, Bihar received the award for the Best Master Craftsman under small scale category and Shri Akshay Paramanand Pilankar , Ratnagiri,Maharastra and Shri Sagir Ahmed, Jorhat, Assam received the consolation award under the same category. Dr. Sivakumar T, CPCRI(RS),Kayamkulam, Kerala received the award for the Best Coconut Extension Personnel and M/s. Anjarakandy Farmers Service Co-operative Bank Ltd., Kannur, Kerala received the award for the Best Co-operative Society / NGO in the field of Coconut Development.

Coconut Development Board also honored the coconut climbers and Shri.V.I Kurian, Ernakulam, Kerala received the award for the Best coconut Climber using traditional methods (Male) and Shri.Paresh Baishya, Nalbari,. Assam received the consolation award for the Best coconut Climber using traditional methods (Male). Shri.Gidugu Sesha Giri Rao, Godaveri,Andhra Pradesh received the award for the Coconut Climber under under FoCT scheme of the Board-Male category and Smt. Suni Lee, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala received the award for the Coconut Climber under FoCT Female category. Shri.Dileep Kumar P, Kasargod, Kerala received the award for the Best Neera Technician from the country. M/s. Mangalam Coconut Producers Federation, Malappuram, Kerala received the award for the Best Coconut Producers Federation.

CDB’s DSP Farm Palghar, Maharastra received the award for the best DSP Farm of CDB- Under Initial Stage of establishment and DSP Farm Vegiwada, Andhra Pradesh received the award for the best DSP Farm of CDB Under Production Stage. Export Awards featuring outstanding performance in export of coconut products were also declared. M/s. United Carbon Solutions Private Limited, Tamil Nadu received the award for the Best Manufacturer Exporter, large category, M/s. Jacobi Carbons India Private Limited, Tamil Nadu received the award for the Best Manufacturer Exporter, medium category and M/s. Raj Carbons, Tamil Nadu received the award for the Best Manufacturer Exporter, small category.

M/s. Fair Exports India Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra received the award for the Best Merchant Exporter and Smt. Sajitha Basheer,Kochi Kerala received the award for the Best woman Manufacturer Exporter. Smt. Rhona Varghese of M/s. Golden Globe Agencies, Kochi Kerala received the award for the Best woman Merchant Exporter. M/s. Lala Agro Tropic Private Limited, Kochi, Kerala received the award for the Best innovative Exporter and M/s. Vadakara Coconut Farmers Producer Company Limited, Kerala received the award for the Best Farmer Producer Organization.

Inauguration of CDB State Centre, Junagadh, Gujarat