Coconut – the Tree of Life

The article by “Nan” in the Sunday Island makes mention of this remarkable tree whose extent in our country covers an area of roughly the combined extents under tea and rubber. Poverty has been defined as an inability to utilize the resources available. In this narrow sense, coconut certainly fits. But in terms of potential and inherent value (not merely nutritional), but constructional, decorative, cultural and traditional, it far outstrips the other two main crops. I once encountered the fascinating W. Dahanayake (MP) at a “Coffee Bar”, and he made an interesting remark that Sri Lanka should focus attention and effort on just five crops – Paddy, Sugarcane, Pasture, Jak and Coconut. I select a few fascinating points in support of such a view.

It is a pity that coconut is regarded merely as an Oil Crop. So, it finds itself compared with Oil Palm, Soya, Sunflower, Groundnut, Flax, etc. In this sense it is not at the top of the league. (Witness the ongoing discourse on a decision to limit Oil Palm acreage), Among its documented 300 – odd uses, coconut out-performs any competitor, if one accounts its total contribution to economic, traditional and cultural uses. Of a (fluctuating) annual near 3,000 million nuts, over 60% is consumed locally.

The balance is exported as Desiccated coconut, oil, fibre, charcoal, fresh nuts, a limited export of young nuts (Kurumba), brushes and ornaments. There remains considerable scope for value-added products as well. Quality improvement, product diversification and innovation offer enormous scope. It will take volumes to deal anywhere near completely, with the many uses. I will, therefore, confine myself to identifying some areas where the pay-offs would be high.

(i) At a recommended spacing of 9-10 metres, there is considerable scope for intercropping with pasture for cattle, supplemented with poonac from oil mills and for fuel wood (e,g Glyricidia ) for dendro-thermal energy generation.

(ii) The trunks of old trees are used in construction (rafters, structural members), furniture and handicrafts. It excels as material for chipboard. The fronds (unfurl at about one per month) are traditionally used for roof thatch and fencing.

(iii) Sap tapped from emerging inflorescence provides a sweet sap (about 10-14% sugar) of superlative taste (now canned) treacle and jaggery. When fermented – as toddy and vinegar, and when distilled, as arrack. Normal toddy has around 4-6% alcohol. Preliminary studies on selecting yeasts showed isolates yielding up to 10% alcohol.

(iv) “Virgin Coconut oil” achieves high quality and commands premium value.

(v) Traditional manual squeezing of grated coconut leaves behind about 30%waste) of the fat, all of the protein and fibre. Coconut paste (whole kernel gratings) would theoretically enhance fat yield by 30% (or effectively increasing nut yield by a third). Interestingly, coconut milk is sufficiently close to the composition of cows’ milk to permit substitution in beverages such as tea, coffee and cocoa. This would interest Vegans.

(vi) Just as the inflorescences unfurl, there is exuded a drop or two of a sweet nectar, and the flowers provide an abundance of pollen. This suggests that bee-keeping under coconut should be expanded.

(vii) Young coconut water (and waste water from D.C mills) is canned and exported by a few enterprises.

(viii) Coconut ropes have exceptional resistance to sun and sea-water. I understand that coconut cordage is well suited for marine moorings. There is considerable scope for ropeways, as used by our tappers. Proper cultivation of dates, requires up to 10 climbs for a season. The residual leaf bases are a huge inconvenience and therefore expensive. Male and female palms are separate, and need to be hand-pollinated. Selected male palms are interspersed with females, as the quality of the fruit depends much upon the pollen parent.

(ix) During the fruiting season (February to August) desert winds bring massive amount of dust. Assiduous housewives need to sweep their homes several times per day. This they do with a bundle of discarded fruit bunch inflorescences (comparable to the “Ilapotha” of our rural homes), and as expected, this is highly inefficient. A huge and lucrative market exists for our entrepreneurs to provide good brooms (the humble ‘Kossa’ and “Ilapotha”).

(x) Fibre dust from factories has great potential (if not already met) for “Coco-Peat” as a horticultural growth medium – as a potting compost and to aid in soil improvement and amelioration.

Dr UPATISSA PETHIYAGODA