Coconut production in Kerala facts for kids
Kerala (also called Keralam in the local Malayalam language) is known as the "Land of Coconuts." This is because 'kera' means 'coconut' and 'alam' means 'land of'. Kerala is a state in India, located between the sea and mountains. It gets a lot of rain from the monsoon season, which helps its rice fields and coconut trees grow well.
Coconut trees in Kerala have long growing seasons. This means they produce new coconuts very often, about every 40 days! Each tree can give 20 to 30 coconuts per harvest. Many people in Kerala, called Keralites, have several coconut trees on their land. They call these trees Kalpa Vriksham, which means "the trees of heaven."
Coconuts are super important in Kerala. People use them for many things:
- The fruit itself is used for food.
- Young, tender coconuts provide refreshing water.
- The leaves (fronds) are used to make mats and roofs.
- Coconut oil is used for cooking.
- The husk (outer shell) is used to make strong ropes, which is a big industry there.
Coconuts are also a big part of Kerala's culture and celebrations. They are used in delicious Keralan dishes, offered to gods, and broken to mark special occasions. Words like copra (dried coconut meat) and coir (coconut fiber) actually come from the Malayalam language.
In the past, Kerala produced a very large share of India's coconuts. Today, it still produces about 45% of India's coconuts. Most of India's coconut production (about 92%) comes from the southern states, including Kerala and its neighbors. The Coconut Development Board, which helps coconut farming in India, has its main office in Kochi, Kerala. One challenge for coconut production in Kerala is a plant sickness called 'Root Wilt Disease'.
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Where Coconuts Grow Best
Coconut trees grow best in sandy soils, like those found along the coast. This helps them produce more coconuts. However, in Kerala, coconut trees also grow well in fertile, flat areas further inland.
Main Coconut Growing Areas
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Kochi
- Kollam
- Alappuzha
- Ponnani
- Tanur
- Kozhikode
- Kannur
- Places in the flat, fertile regions of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts.
Many Uses of the Coconut Tree
In Kerala, the coconut tree is truly seen as a "tree of heaven" (Kalpa Vriksham) because almost every part of it is useful! These tall trees can grow up to 25 meters (about 82 feet) high and produce over 50 coconuts each year on average.
Here are some ways different parts of the coconut tree are used:
- Leaves: Used to make sheds, baskets, and doormats.
- Husk: The outer fibrous part is used to make coir, which is a strong material for ropes and mats.
- Shell: The hard inner shell is used to make ladles and spoons.
- Fruit: The coconut fruit itself is used for food, to make hair oil, and for drinking.
Coconut is a key ingredient in many Kerala dishes. Coconut oil is also widely used for cooking. People make drinks like coconut toddy and dishes like appam (a type of pancake) using coconut. Coconut paste is also important for making traditional curries.
If you visit Kerala, you can even go on special "coconut tours" in places like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kumarakom, Paravur, Mararikulam, and Periyar. These tours let you see how coconuts are grown and used.
Images for kids
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A coconut tree in Kerala
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Coconut trees and paddy field
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Intercropping coconut with Tagetes erecta
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Kallar, Kerala
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Toddy shop
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Varambu
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Vadavannur Rice Fields
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Coconut Tree
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CoconutTree on a beach (Varkala)
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Beautiful Sea Coconut Trees
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Ashtamichira
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Coconuts arrangement in kerala
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തേങ്ങ പൊതിക്കാനുള്ള ഉപകരണം
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Coir fibers
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Coir worker
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Making coir rope in Kerala
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Women at work in a small scale coir spinning unit at Kollam
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Ola madanjathu
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Vallom
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Kuruthola kalari
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Coconut craft at Fort Kochi
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Coconut Leaf Gate
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Coconut Apple - പൊങ്ങ്
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Puttu with Kadala
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Appam and Curry
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Kozhukatta - Cuisine of Kerala
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Vada (Kerala style, with coconut chutney)
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