International Coconut Day

“It’s an old and common saying that coconut tree provides food, drink and cloth. True, but the list to my knowledge includes toddy, wine, vinegar, oil, milk and honey (treacle) – all eatables. Besides many household essentials like mats, brooms, containers, plates and ropes ae made from parts of the coconut palm.”

Rober Knox 1681

The 19th century was the heyday of the coconut industry; so much so that the founder of Lever Brothers, W.H. Lever stated that “I know of no field of tropical agriculture that is so promising and I do not think in the whole world there is a promise of so lucrative an investment of time and money as in this (coconut) industry.’’

However, with the competition from cheaper producs and enhanced availability of vegetable oils, the golden years were soon to end. Meanwhile in producing countries coconut production stagnated. These factors compelled them to get organized on a common platform to device a joint action plan to meet the challenge.

It was on September 2, 1969, more than half a century ago, that three coconut producing countries of Asia banded together under the aegis of UN/ESCAP and met in Colombo to form the first inter-governmental regional commodity body and named it Asian Coconut Community. With the coconut producing Pacific countries joining, soon the new organization came to be known as Asian and Pacific Coconut Community.

It brought under its wing more coconut producing countries. The number of member states increased to 14. It provided a forum for them to meet ,discuss, exchange views and cooperate at different levels. An information network among member countries was set up with the Secretariat as the hub.

The information through regular bulletins, new journals like Cord, Cocoinfo International and the regular publication Statistical Yearbook in addition to various reports commenced serving a bigger audience. Traditional coconut products like activated carbon as well as new products eg., bottled coconut water and virgin coconut oil entered the international markets earning valuable foreign exchange for producer countries. Fibre dust (kohu buth) once a throw away item which used to clog waterways were turned to briquettes and exported to be used in agriculture. Coir dust is now a widely used growing medium.

The biggest victory achieved by the organization for the industry was the one over the campaign against coconut .The efforts of researchers on the subject were encouraged ,promoted and recognized and the findings disseminated by the Coconut Community. For example, Dr. Mary Enig of the Maryland University revealed in a paper presented at the 30th anniversary of APCC: “Lauric acid, the major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut has long been recognized for the unique properties that it lends to nonfood uses in the soap and cosmetics industry. More recently lauric acid has been recognized for its unique properties in food use which are related to its antiviral, antibacterial and anti-protozoal functions. Clearly there has been increasing recognition of health supporting functions of the fatty acids found in coconut.”

Despite the attempts in coordination the coconut industry needed greater exposure and awareness. It was in this background that in the year 1999 it was decided to designate September 6 of the year as Coconut Day. With the new members from other regions joining the APCC it’s name was changed to International Coconut Community (ICC) it can now be the International Coconut Day.

In 1994 then Secretary General of United Nations Boutros Boutros – Ghali on the APCC’s 25 years of service said, “Despite the commendable initiatives that have taken over the years a great deal remains to be done.”

On this year’s International Coconut Day , the ICC as a body and member countries individually should see what remains to be done and address those issues.

Dr. PG Punchihewa,
Executive Director APCC. 1985 to 2000.