International Coconut Community (ICC) in association with the Government of India through Coconut Development Board (CDB) organized a two day International Conference on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products, at Le Meridian Hyderabad, Telangana, India from 27-28 February in a hybrid mode. The theme of the Conference was: Global Coconut Industry – Cruising to the Pinnacle.
The general objective of organizing the conference was to Sharing of perspectives of industry and global players on current market trends, challenges, areas requiring future research, market prospects, strategies to sustain the development of this sector, and dissemination of knowledge as well as innovative industry practices and working towards addressing the challenges and securing the opportunities.
The world renowned speakers, experts, entrepreneurs, policy makers and officials from the countries of India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, LMC International Malaysia, Oil World Germany, Fair Food Netherland and International Trade Centre, Genewa participated in the workshop and shared their experience and expertise. There were more than 125 participants joined physically as well as more than 400 participants joined virtually. This conference served as a venue for knowledge sharing amongst industry stakeholders, in the coconut community from across the globe joining hands to discuss on the international outlook for coconut products and the strategies and policies that will lead to the sustained development of the sector benefitting both the farmers and the industry.
The conference was inaugurated on 27th February formally by lighting the traditional lamp by the dignitaries present. The dignitaries present were Shri. Raghu Nandan Rao IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director, International Coconut Community, Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Coconut Development Board, Mr. Bernie Ferrer Cruz, ICC National Liaison Officer (NLO) & Administrator, Philippine Coconut Authority, Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), India, Dr. Ramesh Mittal, Director, National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur, India and Dr. Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB. In her welcome address Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS mentioned that this conference is organized jointly by CDB and ICC. This conference would be an coalition of the ideas of market and trend in the global community. The market researchers, analyzer and experts will be sharing their experience and ideas. Coconut having nutritive and health aspects so sustainability in sourcing and development needs to be well attended. The coconut stakeholders, industry enterpreneurs and farmers should move hand in hand for the common development of the sector together to reach towards the pinnacle. The trade and market of the coconut products to be linked so as to lead the sunrise industry to a greater height.
Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director, ICC, in her address mentioned that India contributed significantly to the coconut sector specially to ICC (formally APCC) from its establishment since 1969 as an founder member. She expressed her gratefullness to all the speakers, and chairs who agreed to be part of this conference to provide invaluable inputs in responding to the current challenges of trade and marketing of coconut products. She mentioned about the key trends that could drive the industry to survive including increasing awareness of the positive nutritional, health and eco-friendly properties of coconut and its high value added products; Increasing consumer preference for eco-friendly and organic products; The need for certification especially for big markets like the US and European Union. Traceability down to farm and production practices, and The growing concern for the environment and the quality life of our future generation, especially the campaign for a plastic waste free world, stop cutting down trees and carbon neutral. Therefore she encouraged to expand and strengthen global collaboration and multilateral coordination, and provide the necessary technical and policy supports.
Shri. Raghu Nandan Rao IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, in his address thanked all for arranging this conference here in Hyderabad. He mentioned that in Telangana state the government is providing irrigation assistance and power supply to the agriculture sector. Cotton and Paddy is the main crop with tremendous growth. But now the farmers are shifting from field crops to plantation crops i.e., oil palm and coconut. He also mentioned about the importance of coconut including nutrition and health aspects and requested to priortise it in the discussions. He added that the climate change in recent years also affected the agriculture sector a lot which also needs to be addressed. He concluded that many international experts are sharing their experience in this platform so the participants can take benefit of this opportunity to take home the latest and updated knowledge with them.
Administrator Bernie Ferrer Cruz in his address extended very warm welcome to all who joined physically and virtually. He thanked the two great ladies of the two organization for arranging this conference. He stressed on the sustainable and resilient coconut sector and to strengthen the coconut value chain. He added that the market of coconut products are continuing to grow. The potential customers, business partners and experts will be going to share their experience in this conference. Administrator wished all a productive conference and requested to take advantage and develop networking scenario by coordinating with producers, consumers and exporters.
The dignitaries released the 75-year diamond jubilee issue of this Indian Coconut Journal (ICJ) of Coconut Development Board. The inaugural session concluded with the exchange of plaques of appreciation and memento to the dignitaries and the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Hanumanthe Gowda, Chief Coconut Development Officer, CDB.
The two days workshop covered in four sessions. Session 1 International Outlook For Coconut Products was mainly focused on global outlook of prices of coconut products. The session was chaired by Mr. Asep Jembar Mulyana, CEO, PT. TOM COCOCHA Indonesia. The speakers joined physicaly were from Transgraph Consulting, Director General, MANAGE India and LMC International Malaysia. The speakers from UCAP Philippines and Oil World Germany joined virtually. The speakers presented the multiple factors weakening the price in the global market and related aspects.
The second session was on Moving Towards Sustainable Coconut Sourcing in which experts from Philippines Coconut Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia and Apex Coco & Solar Energy Limited, India joined physically and presented the sustainable sourcing of coconut. The speaker from International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva, joined virtually and presented the strategies for overcoming the Tariff and Non Tariff Barriers. The session was chaired by Dr. Ramesh Mittal, Director, NIAM, India.
The second day started with the third session on Global Market Prospects and Growth Prospects for Coconut Products, chaired by Dr. Julian Conway McGill, Head South East Asia, LMC International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The speakers joined physically from TOM COCOCHA, Indonesia, Silver Mills, Sri Lanka and Director, NIAM, India. The speakers from Franklin Baker Co., Philippines and CDCOT, Thailand joined virtually. In this session the diferrent industry stakeholders shared their experience in the global market and how collaborative action can be initiated for new market development among industries in ICC member countries.
The last and fourth session focussed on Innovative Industry Practices and Application of Technology in Coconut Sector, chaired by Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General, MANAGE, India. The Speakers from Quality Council of India and Marico India presented physically and speakers from Trace Fair Food, Netherland and Digital Marketing Association, Indonesia joined virtually. The speakers enlightened on developing coconut GAP bench marking with international prices; digital marketing in coconut, block chain technology and industry partnering with farmers for growing together.
There were open forum and discussions after each session in which the researchers, extension officers, stakeholders, industry representatives and farmers participated both physically and virtually. The main outcome and way forward of the conference was presented by Mrs. Deepthi Nair, Director (Marketing), Coconut Development Board.
The conference was conluded on 28th February with the formal valedictory session addressed by Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Chief Executive Officer CDB and Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Executive Director, ICC. The two days conference was moderated by Mrs. Deepthi Nair, Director (Marketing), Coconut Development Board.