The focal theme of World Coconut Day 2021 as proposed by ICC was ‘Building a safe inclusive resilient and sustainable coconut community amid Covid-19 pandemic and beyond’. In line with the focal theme, ICAR-CPCRI celebrated this year’s coconut day by organising various programmes involving different stakeholders.

Shri. P. Prasad, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Kerala, inaugurated the 'World Coconut Day' celebration online. In his inaugural address Shri. Prasad highlighted the need to give emphasis for production and marketing of value added coconut products to enhance income from coconut farming.

Hon’ble Minister, Shri. Prasad also felicitated on line Shri. Abhilash K.S., a young entrepreneur who received technology and handholding support from the Agri-Business Incubation Centre, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod.

Dr. Anitha Karun, Director ICAR-CPCRI welcomed the dignitaries, farmers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders participating in the coconut day celebration. Dr Venkatasubramaniam, Director, ICAR-ATARI Bengaluru offered felicitations online.

In line with the focal theme, the ICAR-CPCRI conducted programmes to support the marginalised communities as part of coconut day 2021 celebration. Shri. K. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes and Devaswoms, Government of Kerala, handed over the coconut seedlings in a virtual programme to the scheduled tribe farmers rehabilitated at Aralam Farm in Kannur district. Shri. K. Radhakrishnan also handed over vegetable seeds to selected scheduled caste women farmers from Thonnakkal village, Pothencode block, Thiruvananthapuram in a function held at his office in Thiruvananthapuram under the SCSP/STC schemes.

After the Hon’ble Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes inaugurated the coconut seedling distribution in online mode, a programme was conducted at Aralam to distribute the seedlings to the selected scheduled tribe farmers. Adv. Sunny Joseph, M.L.A. Peravoor, Smt. P.P. Divya, President, Kannur District panchayat, Shri Binoy Kurien, Vice President, Kannur District panchayat, Shri K. Velayudhan, President Iritty Block Panchayat, Shri K.P. Rajesh, President, Aralam Grama Panchayat and Smt. Mini Dineshan, Member, Aralam Grama Panchayat distributed the coconut seedlings and offered felicitations. Dr. Thamban C, Principal Scientist welcomed the gathering and Shri Bimal Ghosh, Managing Director, Aralam Farming Corporation proposed vote of thanks.

As part of coconut day celebration 5500 coconut seedlings were distributed to selected SC/ST farmers on 2nd September 2021 in a function held at Bubaneswar. The programme was conducted under SCSP/STC scheme in collaboration with Kalpabrukhya Foundation. Dr. Satya Tapas, Smt. Deepa Prajwalana and Dr. Gobinda Chandra Acharya addressed the gathering.

Stakeholders’ Meet on Coconut Based Microenterprises was conducted as part of World Coconut Day celebration at Kavaratty in collaboration with Lakshadweep Krishi Vigyan Kendra on 2nd September 2021. Mr. Abdul Kader, Chairperson, Lakshadweep Village (Dweep) Panchayat inaugurated the meet. Dr. Anand, Sr. Scientist& Head, KVK Lakshadweep welcomed the gathering. Dr. Shameena Beegum, Scientist, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod handled a session on Micro enterprises of coconut value added products.

A Capacity Development Programme for SC/ST farmers on ‘Enhancing Income and Employment Opportunities through Coconut Based Farming Systems and Enterprises’ was conducted at Aralam on 2nd September 2021 as part of coconut day celebrations. The programme was conducted as a collaborative initiative involving ICAR-CPCRI Kasaragod, Aralam Farming Corporation and Coconut Development Board. The training programme was inaugurated by Smt. P.P. Divya, President, Kannur District panchayat.

A training programme for farmers on scientific coconut cultivation was organised at ICAR CPCRI RC, Kahikuchi as part of the World Coconut Day celebration on 2nd September, 2021. Shri.Pankaj Das, best coconut farmer award winner for North-Eastern region shared his experiences in coconut farming with other farmer participants.