https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Coconut_production_in_KeralaCoconut production in Kerala - Revision history2026-07-31T23:33:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Coconut_production_in_Kerala&diff=466778&oldid=prevKellyeZimmermann at 08:46, 24 December 20252025-12-24T08:46:23Z<p></p>
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'''[[Kerala]]''' or ''Keralam'' (as it is known in the region's [[Malayalam]] language) are called ‘''alam''’ meaning ‘the land of’, and ‘''kera''’ meaning ‘coconut’. Jammed between the sea and coastal mountains, Kerala is subject to the [[monsoon]] rains that flood the land and the rice paddies on the subcontinent's southern tip. Long growing seasons yield a coconut crop every 40 days, with each tree producing 20 to 30 coconuts per harvest. [[Malayali|Keralites]], most of whom seem to have at least four or five trees on their small plots of land, claim they are ''Kalpa Vriksham''&nbsp;—“the trees of heaven.” They use the coconuts themselves for food, tender coconuts for water and spirituous toddy for drinking; the fronds for mats and roofs; the oil for cooking; and the husk fibre for a thriving rope industry. They are intrinsically tied to the culture and folklore well. It is a part of every celebration&nbsp;—as an ingredient in the [[Cuisine of Kerala|Keralan delicacies]] prepared, as offering to the gods and to mark an auspicious occasion (by breaking a coconut). Various terms like [[copra]] and [[coir]] are derived from the native [[Malayalam language]].<br />
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By the late 1970s it accounted for some 68% of total production in India and at one stage some 8,99,198 hectares were reportedly under cultivation.<ref name="Oommen1979">{{cite book|last=Oommen|first=M. A.|title=Kerala economy since independence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mszsAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=15 November 2011|year=1979|publisher=Oxford & IBH Pub. Co.|pages=48–52}}</ref> Today Kerala produces roughly 45% of India's coconuts, with some 92% of total production lying in the southern Indian states and Kerala's neighbours. The [[Coconut Development Board]] which plays an important role in the development of coconut production in India has its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala.<ref>[http://coconutboard.nic.in/ Coconut Development Board]</ref> One problem which poses a major threat to production in Kerala is 'Root Wilt Disease'.<ref name="Sankhyā B">{{cite book|title=Sankhyā B|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lh7xAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=15 November 2011|date=1 January 1976|publisher=Statistical Pub. Society.|pages=73–4}}</ref><br />
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== Places with high cultivation ==<br />
Coastal regions have sandy soils which is the best for coconut trees which results in a higher yield of the produce (fruit). In Kerala Interior places with fertile soils and plain regions also give good growth to coconut trees.<br />
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=== Places (List) ===<br />
* [[Trivandrum]]<br />
* [[Kochi]]<br />
* [[Kollam]]<br />
* [[Alappuzha]]<br />
* [[Ponnani]]<br />
* [[Tanur, Malappuram|Tanur]]<br />
* [[Kozhikode]]<br />
* [[Kannur]]<br />
* Places in plain fertile regions of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta District.<ref>[http://coconutboard.nic.in/ Coconut Development Board]</ref><br />
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==Uses==<br />
In Kerala, the coconut tree is called as "Kalpa Vriksham" which essentially means all parts of a Coconut tree is useful some way or other. ''[[Cocus nucifera]]'' dominate the landscape in many parts, rising up to a height of 25m, and bearing over 50 fruits on average in a year. The trees have many uses; their leaves are used to make sheds, baskets, and doormats, the husk for making [[coir]], the shell for making ladles and spoons, and fruits used for making hair oil or for eating. Coconut is a staple ingredient in many [[Cuisine of Kerala|Kerala dishes]] and coconut oil is widely consumed and used to make drinks such as [[coconut toddy]] and dishes such as ''[[appam]]''. Coconut is also used for making coconut paste which is essential for making traditional curries.<ref name="OsellaOsella2000">{{cite book|last1=Osella|first1=Filippo|last2=Osella|first2=Caroline|title=Social mobility in Kerala : modernity and identity in conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rMRw0gTZSJwC&pg=PA235|accessdate=15 November 2011|year=2000|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=978-0-7453-1693-2|page=235}}</ref><br />
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A number of places in Kerala such as [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kochi]], [[Kumarakom]], [[Paravur Taluk|Paravur]], [[Mararikulam]] and [[Erode district|Periyar]] offer coconut tours to visitors in their plantations, providing an insight into coconut cultivation in Kerala.<br />
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==Picture gallery==<br />
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<gallery class="center"><br />
File:Coconut tree from Kerala.jpg|A coconut tree in Kerala<br />
File:Coconut trees and paddy field 02.JPG|Coconut trees and paddy field<br />
File:Intercropping coconut n Tagetes erecta.jpg|Intercropping coconut with ''[[Tagetes erecta]]''<br />
File:Kallar, Kerala.jpg|Kallar, Kerala<br />
File:Toddy Shop (2699390021).jpg|[[Toddy shop]]<br />
File:Varambu1.jpg|Varambu<br />
File:Vadavannur Rice Fields 6.jpg|[[Vadavannur]] Rice Fields<br />
File:Friends of Coconut Tree DSCN0310.jpg|Coconut Tree<br />
File:Varkala Beach CoconutTree.jpg|CoconutTree on a beach ([[Varkala]])<br />
File:Beautiful Sea Coconut Trees.jpg|Beautiful Sea Coconut Trees<br />
File:Ashtamichira.jpg|[[Ashtamichira]]<br />
File:Coconuts arrangement in kerala.jpg|Coconuts arrangement in kerala<br />
File:തേങ്ങ പൊതിക്കാനുള്ള ഉപകരണം.jpg|തേങ്ങ പൊതിക്കാനുള്ള ഉപകരണം<br />
File:Coir fiber z.jpg|[[Coir]] fibers<br />
File:Coir worker7.jpg|[[Coir]] worker<br />
File:Making coir rope in Kerala.JPG|Making coir rope in Kerala<br />
File:Women at work in a small scale coir spinning unit at kollam.jpg|Women at work in a small scale coir spinning unit at [[Kollam]]<br />
File:Ola madanjathu 1.jpg|Ola madanjathu<br />
File:Vallom 1.jpg|Vallom<br />
File:Kuruthola kalari DSCN0010.JPG|Kuruthola kalari<br />
File:Coconut craft @ Fort Kochi..JPG|Coconut craft at [[Fort Kochi]]<br />
File:Coconut Leaf Gate.JPG|Coconut Leaf Gate<br />
File:Coconut Apple - പൊങ്ങ് 01.JPG|Coconut Apple - പൊങ്ങ്<br />
File:Puttu with Kadala.JPG|[[Puttu]] with Kadala<br />
File:അപ്പവുംകറിയും.JPG|[[Appam]] and Curry<br />
File:Kozhukatta - Kerala cuisine.jpg|Kozhukatta - [[Cuisine of Kerala]]<br />
File:Vada(kerala style).jpg|[[Vada (food)|Vada]] (Kerala style, with coconut chutney)<br />
</gallery><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Coir]]<br />
* [[Copra]]<br />
* [[Coconut production in India]]<br />
* [[Coconut Development Board]]<br />
* [[Geography of Kerala]]<br />
* [[Tourism in Kerala]]<br />
* [[Cuisine of Kerala]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Coconuts in Kerala}}<br />
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{{Coconut production}}<br />
{{Coconut}}<br />
{{Agriculture in India}}<br />
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[[Category:Coconut production]]<br />
[[Category:Agriculture in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Agricultural production in India by commodity]]<br />
[[Category:Commodity markets in Kerala]]</div>KellyeZimmermann