Plantation Crops

Coconut Value Addition

Tender coconut water
Tender coconuts are valued both for the refreshing drink and gelatinous kernel, which is a delicious food. The composition of tender nut water from this variety is as follows
Quantity of tender nut water : 350 ml/nut
Calorific value : 17.5/1000g of tender nut water
Sugar : 7.1 mg/100 ml of tender nut water
Potassium : 2000 ppm
Sodium : 20 ppm
Organic constituents of plants such as carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes etc. lose their physical and chemical properties in the absence of water.
Water participates directly in many metabolic processes. Inter-conversion of carbohydrates and organic acids depend upon hydrolysis and condensation reactions.
Water increases the rate of respiration. Seeds respire fast in the presence of water.
Water is the source of hydrogen atom for the reduction of CO2 in the reaction of photosynthesis.
Water acts as a solvent and acts as a carrier for many substance. It forms the medium in which several reactions take place.
Water present in the vacuoles helps in maintaining the turgidity of the cells which is a must for proper activities of life and to maintain the form and structure.
Water helps in translocation of solutes.
In tropical plants, water plays a very important role of thermal regulation against high temperature.
The elongation phase of cell growth depends on absorption of water.  

Snow Ball Tender Nut (SBTN)
Snow ball tender nut is a tender coconut without husk, shell and testa which is ball shaped and white in colour. Coconut of eight months age is more suitable for making SBTN in which there is no decrease in quantity of tender nut water and the kernel is sufficiently soft.

 

Coconut chips
Fresh kernel of matured coconut can be used for preparing coconut chips. This can be prepared from mature coconut kernel after removing the moisture content of the kernel partially by osmotic dehydration by using various osmotic media. The dehydrated coconut chips are in ready-to-eat form and can be used as snacks. It could also be used at any time just like fresh kernel after dehydration of the chips. 

 
 
Virgin Coconut Oil
VCO produced from coconut milk cream by hot process took less boiling time and also the produced byproduct skim milk can be used as nutritious beverage containing protein and micronutrients. Fermentation time could be reduced by adding starter culture to the coconut milk for the production of VCO.

Husk
About 30 per cent of husk is fibre and 70 per cent is coir dust. Coir and coir products form the major output from coconut husk. Coir pith is useful as a manure (after composting), mulch material and for making briquettes. The coir pith briquettes can be used as a substitute fuel in the place of firewood for tile and brick industries.

Coconut shell charcoal
It is used extensively for the manufacture of activated carbon. The charcoal has a high absorption capacity for gases and colouring matter and can be used as a refining agent, both as deodorizer and a decolouriser.

Activated carbon
Shell charcoal on activation is transformed into activated carbon which is having the ability to absorb effectively even trace quantities of either unwanted or valuable liquids and gases. Activated carbon is used in solvent recovery processes, water and effluent treatment and the treatment of flue gas before discharge into the atmosphere.

Shell flour
Shell flour is prepared by grinding clean coconut shells to a fine powder. It is used as a filler in the manufacture of phenolic moulding powders. It is also used as a filler in phenolic glues for plywood and laminated sheet manufacture, filler for mosquito incense coils and filler in specialized surface finishes, resin castings etc.

Handicrafts from coconut
A variety of handicraft items, from utility articles to show pieces are manufactured from coconut materials such as wood, shell, fibre and leaflet midrib. Coconut shell is hard, takes a high polish, can be carved, coated with lacquer, inlaid with silver or other metals and generally used with ornamental effect.

Coconut wood
Freshly cut coconut trunks from senile coconut trees can be used as timber after treatment with preservatives for increased shelf life. Treated coconut timber can be used as electric poles, telecom poles and for interior uses for making furniture, window and door frames.