World Coconut Day celebration 2017 at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

KOCHI:
Coconut Development Board is celebrating World Coconut Day celebration on 2nd September at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Radha Mohan Singh, Minister for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare will inaugurate the World Coconut Day at Shubam Kalyana Vedhika, Ramavarappadu Ring Road, Vijayawada, AP. Nara Chandra Babu
Naidu, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh, is likely to preside over the function. The theme for this year’s World Coconut Day is ‘A Healthy Wealthy Life with Coconut’.
Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh; Kesineni Srinivas, member of parliament (Lok Sabha), Vijayawada; Thota Narasimham, member of parliament (Lok Sabha), Kakinada and Member CDB; Gadde Rama Mohan, MLA, Vijayawada, East,; S.K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Dept. of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India; Dr.A.K.Singh, Deputy Director General ICAR, will be
the Guests of Honour. Dr.B.N.S.Murthy, Chairman, CDB will deliver welcome address and Chiranjiv Choudhari, Commissioner of Horticulture, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh will deliver the vote of thanks on the occasion.
Every year 2nd September is celebrated as World Coconut Day to commemorate the formation day of Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC). APCC is an intergovernmental organization of 18 member countries mandated to promote, coordinate and harmonize coconut developmental activities of the Asian Pacific region to achieve maximum economic development. India is one of the founder members of APCC. In India, World Coconut Day is celebrated every year under the aegis of Coconut Development Board in various coconut growing states across the country.
Around 400 farmers from all coconut growing states will take part in the function. An exhibition has also been arranged at the venue showcasing latest technologies in coconut sector and various value added coconut products. A technical session on theme topic is also arranged after the inaugural session which will be chaired by Dr. P. Chowdappa, Director CPCRI, Kasargod. Dr.Vijayakumar, Professor of Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical
Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi will deliver talk on theme topic titled ‘Health and Wellness of Coconut’.
In Andhra Pradesh Coconut is cultivated in an area of 1.04 lakh ha in AP, with an annual production of 1427 million nuts. After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states under the Andhra Pradesh reorganization Act 2014, the major coconut producing areas (99.56 % ) comes under the State of Andhra Pradesh. The coastal districts viz., East Godavari, West Godavari, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram accounts for 92.40% of the total area and 94.49% of production of coconut in the State. 90% of the area under coconut and production comes from the East & West Godawari districts. Bulk of the coconut produced in the state is utilized for making ball copra, supply of mature nut to northern states and as tender coconut. There exists a tremendous scope for establishment of processing units for value added products, extending area under coconut and also in promoting dwarf varieties due to the huge demand of tender nuts in the country. Out of total number of 9433 Coconut Producer Societies formulated across the country, Andhra Pradesh is having 1058 Coconut Producer Societies under 3 tier Farmer Producer Organization. An exhibition on coconut will also be arranged at the venue
wherein around 28-30 Coconut Product Manufacturers/FPOs/Craftsmen across the country will showcase their various value added coconut products.
V.S. Sunil Kumar, Agriculture Minister will inaugurate the Kerala state level World Coconut Day celebration on 2nd at Head Quarter of Coconut Development Board, Kochi. Prof. K.V.Thomas, MP, Ernakulam, will preside over the function.
Teeka Ram Meena, Agricultural Production Commissioner Govt. of Kerala, Hibi Eden, MLA, Ernakulam, P.C. Mohanan Master, Vice Chairman, CDB, P.R. Muraleedharan, Board Member, CDB, Dr.R.Krishnakumar, Head, CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam, V. Venugopalan Nair, Chairman, Kerafed, A.M. Sunil Kumar Director of Agriculture Govt. of Kerala will be the Guests of Honour.
Around 200 farmers from all districts of Kerala will take part in the function. A technical session on “Innovations in Coconut Cultivation” is also arranged after the inaugural session which will be chaired by M. Thomas Mathew, Retd. Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB, Kochi.