As part of the ‘Bharat ki Azadi ka Amruth Mahotasav’ World Coconut Day was celebrated at ICARCPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam on 2nd September 2021. The programme consisted of a farmer seminar on ‘Coconut for Healthy life’ and also included the valedictory function of ‘Coconut Advisory Series’ which commenced on the ICAR Foundation Day on July 16, 2021. The programme sensitized farming fraternity on the nutritional and health benefits of coconut oil and other value added products for the wellness of mankind. Fifteen selected farmers who had attended the online coconut advisory series were invited to the station and were honored during the programme. About 250 farmers attended the virtual programme through Zoom platform as well as though YouTube live sessions. The programme commenced with the inauguration of the recently renovated Farmer Information Centre, by the chief guest Smt. Sasikala, Chairperson, Kayamkulam Municipality. All coconut technological solutions were lucidly displayed in the information gallery for the benefit of visitors with the purpose of bringing all technological outputs in a single point so as to avoid lab visits under the CVID pandemic situation.

Dr. S. Kalavathi, Acting Head, ICAR-CPCRI, RS, Kayamkulam welcomed the gathering. In her welcome speech, she briefed about the coconut advisory series and shared the relevance of observing World Coconut Day in order to form a strong coconut farming community with technological updates auguring a resilient and environmentally responsible coconut based cropping system. Smt. Binu Ashok, Municipal Councillor, chaired the function. The programme was inaugurated by Smt. Sasikala, Chairperson, Kayamkulam Municipality. In her inaugural address, she highlighted the importance of government initiative for creating proper market outlet to ensure reasonable price for farm products. Dr. Anitha Karun, Acting Director, delivered the Key note address wherein she emphasized on the importance of secondary agriculture to maximize the farm income and enhance profitability. She also highlighted on the ICAR-CPCRI technologies for the value addition of coconut products, which can be utilized by the unemployed youth as Startup firms for livelihood security and intelligent marketing. Dr. P. Muralidharan, Head and PS, ICAR-KVK, Alappuzha, delivered the felicitation address, wherein he emphasized the importance of coconut based integrated farming system and the significance of FPO’s ensuring sustainable market network. Two farmers expressed the feedback about the Coconut advisory series, which was conducted from 16th July to 1st September 2021. The series comprised 20 lectures covering the pedigree, production, protection and processing technologies of coconut in a capsule form which is presently available as YouTube. The farmer participants were also honored with a coconut seedling ‘Kalpasankara’.

The special lecture on the topic ‘Nutritional values of coconut and health’ was delivered by Dr. B. Chembakam, Former Head, Division of Crop Production, ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode. She gave a detailed insight into nutritional values of all parts of coconut and curative effect of coconut products against various diseases. The lecture outlined the health benefits of coconut oil and its medicinal value studded with scientific facts overriding the misconception on the use of coconut oil.

In the afternoon session, farmers visited various experimental plots including, fertigation trial, ecological engineering, coconut nursery, coconut dwarf varieties and Krishi Vigyan Kendra under the guidance of relevant scientists and officers. The programme was co-ordinated by Dr. Anes K.M., Dr. A. Josephrajkumar, Dr. Shareefa M., Dr. Merin Babu and Dr. S. Kalavathi