Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

• Family: Arecaceae
• Origin: Southeast Asia
• Fruit Type: Single-seeded drupe
• Name Origin: Cocus from Spanish coco = “monkey face”
• Employment: Coconut industry provides jobs to ~10 million people

Botanical & Biological Traits

• Pollination:
  • Dwarf types: Self-pollinated
  • Tall types: Cross-pollinated
• Growth Temperature: Optimum = 27°C
• Maturity Time: 12–13 months from flowering
• Photosensitive: Heliotropic (loves sunlight)
• Secondary Growth: Absent in stem and roots
• Propagation: 9–12-month-old seedlings transplanted

Yield & Production

• Yield: 80–100 nuts/palm/year
• India:
  • Rank: 3rd (after Indonesia, Philippines)
  • Share in Area/Production (with Sri Lanka): ~73–79% area, ~89% production globally
  • Productivity Rank: 1st globally
  • Highest Productivity: Maharashtra (20,621 nuts/ha)
  • Best Average Productivity: 7608 nuts/ha
  • Top Producing States:
    • Kerala: 45%
    • Tamil Nadu: 22%
    • Karnataka: 12%

Irrigation

• Drip Irrigation (West Coast): 30–40 litres/day per palm
• Critical Water Stage: 12–13 months from inflorescence opening

Composition & Products

• Coconut Water:
  • 94.5% Water + Vitamin C + B-complex + Sugars + Fibre
  • pH: 4.8–5.3
• Kurumba: Immature coconut with clear refreshing water
• Coir Content (Husk):Coir: 70% Fibre: 30%
• Mature Nut: Contains 30–40% coir
• Coconut Copra:
  • Forms: Edible (Ball & Cup copra). Milling copra
  • Kerala: Converts 60–65% production to milling copra
• Endocarp: Used for making toys, buttons, etc.

Varieties

• Tall Types; West Coast Tall, East Coast Tall, Laccadive Ordinary, Andaman Ordinary, Pratap
• Dwarf Types; Chowghat Green Dwarf, Chowghat Orange Dwarf, Gangabondam, Gudanjali, Coco Nino

Improved Selections

1. Chandra Kalpa
2. Pratap – from Bengal Tall
3. Chandratara, Double Century, Kera Chandra – from Philippines Ordinary

Hybrid Development

• First Hybrid (Tall × Dwarf): Released in 1932
• Male Parents (for Hybrid):
  • Chowghat Orange Dwarf
  • Gangabondam

• Health Note; Monolaurin in coconut oil has anti-HIV properties
• Markets & Trade; Kangayan (TN): Second-largest copra & coconut oil market in India

Cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale)

• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Origin: Brazil
• Fruit Type: Nut (false fruit = cashew apple; true fruit = nut)
• Altitude Limit: Below 700 m
• Temperature Requirement: Not below 20°C for prolonged periods
• Soil pH: Not suitable if >8
• Waterlogging: Highly sensitive

Nut Composition

• Fat: 47%
• Protein: 21%
• Carbohydrates: 22%
• Cholesterol: Absent

Economics & Trade

• India:
  • Largest producer & exporter of raw cashew nut
  • 2nd largest consumer of cashew kernel
  • Exports: ~65% of total world trade
• 3rd most exported agri commodity from India
• Largest Importer: USA

Botanical & Cultural Notes

• Inflorescence: Polygamomonoecious
• Best Production Altitude: Up to 400 m
• Sunlight Requirement: Minimum 9 hours/day (Dec–May)
• Pruning Time: August–September
• Propagation: Softwood grafting (commercial)
• Rejuvenation Practice: Top working, also called gillining
• Collection of fallen nuts: Gillining
• Dwarf Rootstock: Anacardium pumilum

Processing & Drying

Note: If >7.5%, susceptible to microbial spoilage

Grades & Export

• 26 export grades of cashew kernel recognized
• Kernel moisture must be controlled to ensure shelf stability

Popular Cashew Varieties (by State)

Hybrid Varieties