Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, will inaugurate the 25th World Coconut Day in Kasargod on September 2.
The theme for World Coconut Day-2023 is ’Sustaining the Coconut Sector for the Present and Future Generation.’
All coconut-growing countries across the globe observe September 2 as World Coconut Day every year, which is the foundation day of the International Coconut Community (ICC), an intergovernmental organisation of coconut-growing countries established under the aegis of UNESCAP in 1969.
World Coconut Day will be celebrated in all Regional Offices, State Centres, and DSP Farms of the Coconut Development Board across the country in association with State Agriculture and Horticulture Departments and State Agricultural Universities.
Progressive farmers from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, entrepreneurs, processors, researchers, and other stakeholders are expected to participate in the programme.
Officials from ICAR, New Delhi, the Coconut Development Board, and representatives of various government departments will attend the programme.
India is a founding member of the ICC. The objective of observing World Coconut Day is to promote all coconut-related activities, thus empowering smallholder farmers and coconut industries in ICC member countries.
An FPO Business Meet on Incentivizing Coconut Cultivation with Better Profit will be held as part of the programme at Kasaragod, where farmers representing FPOs in the coconut sector from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat will participate.
There will be technical sessions followed by a panel discussion on coconut business plans proposed by the FPOs. An exhibition will be held in which over 25 institutions and entrepreneurs will showcase their technologies and products.
The event is organised by the Coconut Development Board in association with ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod.
Rajmohan Unnithan, MP, Kasaragod, will preside over the function, and N. A. Nellikunnu, MLA, Kasaragod, will be the guest of honour. Dr. V. B. Patel, ADG (Fruits and Plantation Crops), ICAR, New Delhi; Renukumar B. H, Vice Chairman, CDB; and P. R. Muralidharan, President, BAMCO, are the other dignitaries participating in the programme. Dr. K. B. Hebbar, Director,ICAR-CPCRI and Dr. B. Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB, will deliver the introductory remarks.
