MINISTER REDDY'S SPEECH ON NATIONAL COCONUT DAY

21/03/2019


“Nutrition, Health and Wealth”

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Fiji is a member of the International Coconut Community (ICC). ICC is an inter-governmental organisation of states in the Asia-Pacific region that promotes, coordinates and harmonizes all activities of the coconut industry. Members of ICC have agreed to conduct a Coconut Day Celebration every year. This year’s theme for Fiji’s Coconut Day Celebration is: “Nutrition, Health and Wealth”. Literally, apart from generating income and alleviating poverty, coconuts help to sustain household food needs and nutrition security. Around 120,000 of our rural population depend on the coconut industry as their main source of food and livelihood.

The ‘National Coconut Day’ provides us with an opportunity to celebrate but also to promote, create interest in, and strengthen the ailing Fijian coconut industry.

The purpose of the National Coconut Day is to promote and create interest amongst all Fijians in order to rejuvenate the ailing industry. We are here to create awareness of the public on:
• Health attributes of coconut-based products
• Improved agronomic practices and coconut based farming system;
• Integrated pest and disease management strategies in coconuts;
• Value-added coconut based products;
• Coconut-based equipment/machines;
• Policies and programs for inclusive growth and sustainable development of the coconut industry; and 
• Market development 

The foundations on which the celebration of the National Coconut Day is celebrated is worth noting because it derives from the critical aspect that is intrinsically linked to taking the Coconut Industry forward. 

At the forefront of these concerted efforts, there is an immediate need to address shortfalls that exist within the coconut industry, for example; the trees around us are tall but are also widely unproductive. There is a need to replant so that our future generation can enjoy these fruits. 

This low production has been attributed but not exclusive to:
• Existing Senile plantations (40% trees are senile and unproductive), 
• Fluctuation in copra prices,
• High production costs, 
• Shortage of copra cutters, 
• Lack of interest amongst the younger generation,
• Frequent cyclones and other catastrophic weather events, and
• Competition from other lucrative cash crops such as dalo and yaqona.
On the other hand, however, the production of Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is rapidly gaining popularity amongst our rural and maritime communities. Copra remains the most traded coconut commodity in the country as Fiji has around 10 million coconut trees scattered around an area of approximately 65,000ha of land; the majority (70%) of which, are in the Northern Division. This is the silver lining but still requires immediate addressing if efforts are to succeed. 

Before I continue, let me take you back to our earlier days when our lives were so heavily dependent on the coconut tree. “Our food was cooked in coconut oil; we enjoyed our meals cooked with coconut cream; the only lotion we had was coconut oil; whenever we had cuts and bruises we applied coconut oil for fast healing; our babies were massaged with coconut oil; daily our mothers swept the house with a broom made from coconut leaves; and vegetables from our gardens were gathered in coconut weaved baskets”. Coconuts played an important role in every aspect of our lives. Coconuts are a nutritious source of food, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished Fijian people for generations. 

Amongst the Fijians of Indian decent, coconut has its lace rooted in their religion. It is termed as the most purest fruit and is offered in most hindu prayers. 

So ladies and gentlemen, coconut is now a part of the life of all Fijians.

Allow me to ask you a question: Who planted the coconut tree that you are relying on?

Our grandfathers, fathers and us; because these trees were planted for our children. The coconut tree is considered a “three generation tree”, as it can support a farmer, his children and grandchildren. The coconut tree has a life span of 60-80 years and is often called the ‘tree of life’, as it provided the basis of livelihood (food and shelter) for many Fijians for countless years. 

The coconut industry has its roots in antiquity. Coconuts were most likely brought to Fiji by early voyages and have been cultivated for several centuries. In 1875, records say that about 2,400 tons of copra were exported. Two years later, copra became Fiji’s principal export commodity, with a production of 4,372 tons, and export earnings of £54,642 (FJD$151,910). While copra production was once as high as 40,000 tonnes in 1952, copra production has dropped to a mere 2,000 tonnes annually; which is a 95% reduction. 

Coconut Industry Development

The Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges the importance of the coconut industry. Through its Crop Extension Services and Research Division, the Ministry promotes the overall development of coconut as part of a farming system, whilst focussing on the rehabilitation of existing fields and plantations. During this financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture was allocated a budget of $750,000 for the Coconut Development Program, This is a budget increase of 103% as compared to the 2014 budget; when the Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture allocated FJD $370,000 to the Coconut Development Programme.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture provides support through its Research Division, with an allocation of $200,000 to the Taveuni Coconut Centre under the 2018/19 budget. The Ministry over the years has also provided support through infrastructure development and the provision of technical advisory services to stakeholders. 

Government through the Ministry of Agriculture will focus to provide aggressive intervention in the coming 10 years through the following strategies:

• Strategy 1: Increase Coconut Production, Farm Productivity and Farmers Income

 Strengthen and Coordinate aggressive replanting campaign (1.5 million tress in the next 10 years with 150,000 per year) to address 50% of the current 40% senile trees 

 Continue to emphasize more on Breeding/Research for superior varieties through reviving of the Gene bank at Mua Research Station ( Hybridization starts this year at Mua Research Station)

 Improve farm productivity per unit area through promoting Coconut Base Farming System (Dalo, Yaqona, Livestock under Coconut)

 More effort on Pest & Disease Control/Management- (the control of Rhinoceros beetle is on-going with Bucket pheromone traps and ground traps using fugal and viral). The projection is to reduce the current 30% infestation to a more manageable level below the Economic threshold Level.

• Strategy 2: Promote Value-Added Product Processing and Marketing and

 Continue to provide skill training on Virgin Coconut Oil and other high value by-products to Farmers/Entrepreneurs/Small Micro-Enterprises (SME’s) 

• Strategy 3: Promote Capacity Building and Provide Institutional Support to Ensure Sustainability of Development Intervention

 Strengthen Extension work on Coconut – recruit Commodity officers (1 already appointed)
 Strengthen Awareness/Campaign on Coconut
 Provide policy environment to encourage joint ventures, promote local and foreign investment and Public Private Partnership
 Facilitate formation of Coconut Industry Strategic Plan and Roadmap 

Government Commitment 

Coconut Celebration Day also focuses on increasing productivity and product diversification from traditional copra production to whole-nut processing. The Ministry has conducted trainings over the last 5 years and trained more than 100 participants on whole nut processing. Additionally, these participants were equipped with VCO producing machines, which are valued at $700,000 (100 sets of equipment @ $7000 each) to boost VCO production in their villages and communities.
Concluding Remarks

I again wish to assure the Fijian Governments full commitment to rehabilitating the Coconut industry. I urge you all to support and promote the use of coconut for our nutrition, health and wealth. “Let’s join hands and plant this tree of life for our future generation”.