Port Blair, Aug 02: Coconut, popularly known as Tree of Life, Tree of Heaven, Nature’s Super Market and Kalpavriksha is grown in 11.74 million ha in more than 93 countries with a production of 55,569 million nuts. With the aim to promote coconut cultivation and increase its productivity level, and to create awareness among the rural populace a new trend has been started to celebrate World Coconut Day on 02nd September worldwide.
To make this day a ‘remarkable’, the Department of Agriculture, Diglipur in association with Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) has celebrated this day with great pomp and gaiety at Gram Panchayat Keralapuram, Diglipur. The theme for this year is ‘Inclusive Growth for Sustainable Development of Coconut Industries’.
The opening ceremony of the function commenced by lighting of lamp by the Chief Guest Dr. Vivek Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur and other dignitaries namely Mr. Madhusudan Nair, Pradhan, Keralapuram GP; Smt. Pramila Singh, Lawyer; Dr. Sabila Banu, CHC, Diglipur; Smt. Chameli Biswas, C.D.P.O. and Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Project Director, ATMA, Diglipur.
In the inaugural speech as the Chief Guest of the occasion, Dr. Vivek Kumar, Asst. Commissioner, Diglipur highlighted the importance of World coconut Day. He urged to increase its cultivation and thereby productivity by means of better management, organic recycling, replanting and also by adopting an integrated farming system coupled with community processing, product diversification, value-addition and by-product utilization. He was enthusiased by the huge gathering of participants and underlined the mass to be more competitive in the coconut cultivation as it will fetch higher income and livelihood security.
Earlier while welcoming the gathering, Mr. Ramesh Kumar, DPD, ATMA, Dilgipur stressed the importance of coconut in daily life as well as in Islands economy. He expressed that the coconut is associated with the socio economic aspects of millions of people who directly and indirectly depend on this crop by providing ample opportunities employment, food security, livelihood security, export earning, and comprehensive protection to small holders and other agro-industries depending on it. In these islands it is one of the remunerative crop, which covers 50% of total cultivated area. Among the Nicobari tribal, it is their lifeline, since centuries it is cultivated for their livelihood and socio-cultural values.
Later on, Mr. Madhusudan Nair, Pradhan, Keralapuram Gram Panchayat discussed the usefulness, as every part of coconut has it value for mankind. As a Pradhan of coconut growing area i.e., Keralapuram he advocated the rural mass to increase its production and productivity so as to boost the economy and socio economic status. Smt. Seema Majhi, Sitanagar, Social worker also described the nutritive and medicinal values of coconut in detail.
The highlight of the function was ‘Coconut Based Recipe Competition’, where hundreds of people witnessed the mouth lustering recipes of 74 participants. The participants, mostly the house-wives, were not only actively & enthusiastically involved but artistically displayed their delicious recipes. Prizes were distributed to best recipes. The first prize bagged by Smti. M. Susheela for her recipe ‘Coconut rice with chutney’, second prize awarded to Smti. Beena Devi for ‘Ada payasum’ and the third prize winner was Miss Sweety Biswas for ‘Coconut Shahi Tukda’. Besides these prizes four consolation prizes were also awarded. Seeing the enthusiastic participants, the Chief Guest overwhelmingly awarded cash prizes to all theses prize winners
The programme concluded with prizes and certificate distribution. Vote of thanks given by Smt. Shakila Nawaz, A.O.,Diglipur. Altogehter gathering of more than 100s of people along with the department staffs actively participated in the programme.
