A NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COCONUT GENETIC RESOURCES NETWORK

N e w s l e t t e rMARCH 1999

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCOGENT 1Note from the SecretariatNote from the SecretariatNote from the SecretariatNote from the SecretariatNote from the Secretariat 2COGENT Steering Committee COGENT Steering Committee COGENT Steering Committee COGENT Steering Committee COGENT Steering Committee 3Sub-network reportsSub-network reportsSub-network reportsSub-network reportsSub-network reportsSoutheast and East Asia 4South Asia 4South Pacific 4Africa and the Indian Ocean 5Latin America & the Caribbean 5National programme reportsNational programme reportsNational programme reportsNational programme reportsNational programme reportsIndonesia 6Sri Lanka 7Papua New Guinea 8Brazil 8Côte d’Ivoire 9Feature articleFeature articleFeature articleFeature articleFeature article 10Partner institutionsPartner institutionsPartner institutionsPartner institutionsPartner institutionsBUROTROP 11APCC 12COGENT Databases COGENT Databases COGENT Databases COGENT Databases COGENT Databases 12Ongoing projectsOngoing projectsOngoing projectsOngoing projectsOngoing projectsADB, IFAD, DFID & CFC 13PublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublications 14Bulletin BoardBulletin BoardBulletin BoardBulletin BoardBulletin Board 15

International Coconut GeneticResources Network (COGENT)

Coconut diversity . Picture courtesy ofRoland Bourdeix, CIRAD.

Coconut, as a smallholders’ crop, has tre-mendous potential for resource-poor co-conut farmers. However, it is beset by de-clining farm productivity and farmers’incomes. The Consultative Group on In-ternational Agricultural Research(CGIAR) and its Technical Advisory Com-mittee (TAC) recognized that research wasone of the ways to effectively alleviate theseconstraints but also noted that it requireslong-term research programmes, with as-sured organization and funding support,which many national programmes can-not reliably provide without internationalassistance.

In its review of CGIAR priorities and stra-tegies in 1986, the TAC/CGIAR decidedto include coconut in its international re-search portfolio. At the suggestion of theTAC/CGIAR, at an international work-shop on coconut genetic resources inCipanas, Indonesia in October 1991, re-

presentatives of 15 coconut-producingcountries recommended the establish-ment of an international coconut geneticresources network. With the endorsementof the CGIAR and its donors, the Interna-tional Plant Genetic Resources Institute(IPGRI) established the International Co-conut Genetic Resources Network (CO-GENT) in 1992 to promote an interna-tional collaborative programme on coco-nut genetic resources conservation anduse. IPGRI assumes the role of an execu-ting agency for COGENT under its plantgenetic resources programme . IPGRIalso provides technical backstoppingand administrative support, togetherwith funding from its core funds.

COGENT’s objectives include establish-ing and maintaining an international da-tabase on existing and future collections,encouraging the protection and use ofexisting germplasm collections, identify-ing and securing additional threateneddiversity by developing and adoptingsuitable technologies and conservationstrategies, promoting greater collaborationamong research groups in producer coun-tries and advanced technology sources inthe exchange of germplasm and the de-velopment of new techniques, and con-ducting appropriate training, informationdissemination and securing necessaryfunding for network activities.

At present, COGENT has 35 membercountries which form the five sub-net-works: Southeast and East Asia (China,Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet-nam, Thailand and Myanmar); South Asia(Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and SriLanka); South Pacific (Cook Island, Fiji,Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu);Africa and Indian Ocean (Benin, Côted’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique,Nigeria, Seychelles and Tanzania); andLatin America and the Caribbean (Brazil,Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica,Mexico and Trinidad-Tobago).

COGENT has also established linkageswith partner institutions working on co-conut. Among these are the Bureau forthe Development of Research on TropicalPerennial Oil Crops (BUROTROP), Cen-tre de Coopération Internationale en Re-cherche Agronomique pour leDéveloppement (CIRAD), the Asian andPacific Coconut Community (APCC), Se-cretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC),Long Ashton Research Station (LARS),Institute for Research through Deve-lopment (IRD - previously known asORSTOM) and the Inter-American Insti-tute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

COGENT’s programme prioritiesand activities are decided by theSteering Committee which is cur-rently comprised of two regional co-ordinators from each regional net-work, with the coordinator and APCCas non-voting members. COGENT’sprojects and activities receive fund-ing from various donors such as theAsian Development Bank (ADB), In-ternational Fund for Agricultural De-velopment (IFAD), Common Fund forCommodities (CFC) and the Depart-ment for International Development(DFID), U.K; the French Government,FAO, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürTechnische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ),ACIAR and CTA/BUROTROP.

ISSUE 1

C O G E N T

Note from the Secretariat

COGENT Coordinator

The 7th COGENT Steering Committee meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea, last year, decidedthat COGENT publish its own newsletter which will serve as a mechanism to inform net-work members, partner institutions, donors and beneficiaries about the network’s activities.At present, IPGRI/COGENT coordinates 62 country research projects and conducts 8 - 10activities per year in the five sub-networks. Information on these projects and activities would beuseful in promoting more interest in and generate more support for the coconut.

The COGENT Newsletter is a bi-annual publication that will disseminate news from thefive regional sub-networks, national programmes, partner institutions and the COGENTSecretariat. It is also envisioned to serve as an effective mechanism for creating public aware-ness and support for an important crop.

Lastly, we hope that the COGENT Newsletter would serve well as a medium in forging acloser cooperation among member countries, partner institutions, donors and others whoshare our concern for the resource-poor coconut farmers.

COGENT 2

From left: Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator; YeowGiap Seng, Programme Assistant; Shaharudin Saamin,Scientific Assistant; Zulyana Mohd Nor, Secretary; andShalizahanim Shukor, Communication Assistant.

COGENT Steering Committee

1. Endorsed the proposal for the Asian and Pacific Coco-nut Community (APCC) to submit the project proposal forthe three International Coconut Genebanks (ICGs) in Asia-Pacific to an appropriate donor.

2. Endorsed the request to hold training courses in 1999on technical writing and statistical data analysis for coun-try coordinators of both ADB and IFAD-funded projects.

3. Endorsed the proposal to revise and reprint the Englishversion of the STANTECH Manual and translate, and pub-lish it in French, Spanish and Portuguese.

4. Endorsed the proposal to develop a database on coco-nut research activities among COGENT member countriesand partner institutions, and on multi-purpose uses ofthe coconut and farmers’ varieties.

5. Agreed to publish a bi-annual COGENT Newsletter andto establish a website.

6. Agreed to finalize the Steering Committee’s draft Strate-

The 7th COGENT Steering Committee meeting made the following decisions:

COGENTS e c r e t a r i a t

gic Plan for 1999-2004.

7. Elected the members of the Steering Committee for 1999-2000.

8. Agreed to hold the 8th Steering Committee annual meet-ing in September 1999 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, back-to-back with the annual meetings of the ADB and IFAD-funded projects.

9. Agreed to request BUROTROP to submit the COGENTregional project proposal for the African and Indian Oceanregion (which includes the ICG - AIO proposal) to the Euro-pean Union.

10. Agreed to request the Steering Committee members andthe COGENT Coordinator to refine the proposal and ex-plore the possibility of submission of the COGENT regionalproject proposal for the Latin America and the Caribbeanregion to the Regional Fund of Agricultural Technology(FONTAGRO).

Mr. Osborn is Agriculture Adviser of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and alsoHead of SPC’s Crop Improvement Service. He has 25 years of experience in the management ofagriculture programmes in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. His area of interest is in gettingappropriate technologies and research results in the hands of farmers through participatorymethodologies, especially through improved planting materials and soil fertility. Mr. Osbornfeels that COGENT is moving in the right direction with the establishment of coconut germplasmcentres and collection, development of appropriate hybrids, analysis of coconut farming sys-tems and examining other strategies that will increase the income of coconut farmers. He alsoencourages COGENT members to work hard to maintain the confidence of donors that have been

Dr. N’Cho joined the Marc Delorme Genetic and Breeding Division of the Instituts Des Forets(IDEFOR) as a coconut breeder in 1986. In September 1998, he was appointed Director, CentreNational de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) of the Marc Delorme Research Station. Dr. N’Choplayed an active role in developing the coconut regional project proposal for Africa and theIndian Ocean. He wrote various papers on coconut genetics and breeding. Dr. N’Cho expresseshis intention to reinforce the cooperation among the institutions involved in coconut research inhis capacity as a representative of the African and Indian Ocean region.

COGENT Steering Committee 1999 - 2000TTTTTom Osbornom Osbornom Osbornom Osbornom OsbornChairmanChairmanChairmanChairmanChairman

Pierre YPierre YPierre YPierre YPierre Yavo N’Choavo N’Choavo N’Choavo N’Choavo N’ChoVVVVVice-Chairmanice-Chairmanice-Chairmanice-Chairmanice-Chairman

Southeast Southeast Southeast Southeast Southeast and East and East and East and East and East AsiaAsiaAsiaAsiaAsiaDrDrDrDrDr. . . . . Pasril WPasril WPasril WPasril WPasril Wahid, ahid, ahid, ahid, ahid, Director General, Agency for Forestryand Estate Crops Research and Development (FERDA),Gedung Manggala Wanabakti, Blok 1 Fl. 11, Jl. JenderalGatot Subroto, Senayan, Jakarta, 10270. Tel: 62-21-5730390/5737945 Fax: 62-21-5720189 Mobile: 62-811-814385 Email: kabadan.litbang@dephut.cbn.net.idMrMrMrMrMr. Carlos B. Carpio. Carlos B. Carpio. Carlos B. Carpio. Carlos B. Carpio. Carlos B. Carpio, Deputy Administrator, AgriculturalResearch & Development Branch, Philippine Coconut Au-thority, Don Mariano Marcos Avenue, Diliman, QuezonCity, Philippines. Tel: 632- 920-0415 / 632 4261398 Fax:632- 920-0415 Email: cbc-ardb@mozcom.com

South AsiaSouth AsiaSouth AsiaSouth AsiaSouth AsiaDrDrDrDrDr. S.P Ghosh. S.P Ghosh. S.P Ghosh. S.P Ghosh. S.P Ghosh, Deputy Director General, Indian Councilof Agricultural Research (ICAR), General Krishi Bhawan,Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110001, India. Tel:91-11-3382534 Fax: 91-11-3382534/3387293 Email:spg@icar.delhi.nic.inDrDrDrDrDr. U P de S W. U P de S W. U P de S W. U P de S W. U P de S Waidyanathaaidyanathaaidyanathaaidyanathaaidyanatha, Chairman, Coconut ResearchBoard, Bandirippuwa Estate, Lunuwila 61150, Sri Lanka.Tel: 94-31-55300/55497/01243795 Fax: 94-31-57391Email: dircri@sri.lanka.net

The The The The The South South South South South PacificPacificPacificPacificPacificMrMrMrMrMr. Samisoni Ulitu. Samisoni Ulitu. Samisoni Ulitu. Samisoni Ulitu. Samisoni Ulitu, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Minis-try of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Private Mail Bag,Raiwaqa, Suva, Fiji. Tel: 679-384233 Fax: 679-385234MrMrMrMrMr. T. T. T. T. Tom Osbornom Osbornom Osbornom Osbornom Osborn, Agriculture Adviser, AgricultureProgramme and Team Leader of the Crop ImprovementService, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva,Fiji. Tel: 679 370733 Fax: 679 370021 Email:tomO@spc.org.fj / LaisaT@spc.org.fj

List of the Steering Committee members and their contact details.

Bank, EMBRAPA/CPATC, Coconut Division, CoastalPlateau Agricultural Research Center, National Centerfor Coconut Research, Av. Beira-Mar, 3250,CEP 49025-040 Aracaju – SE, Brazil. Tel: 55 79 2171300 Fax: 55 792319145 Email: tupi@cpatc.embrapa.brIng. Jorge Rolando Cueto RodriguezIng. Jorge Rolando Cueto RodriguezIng. Jorge Rolando Cueto RodriguezIng. Jorge Rolando Cueto RodriguezIng. Jorge Rolando Cueto Rodriguez, Deputy Director,Ministerio de La Agricultura, Instituto de Investigacionesde Citricos y Frutales, Ave. 7ma. No. 3005 e/30 y 32,Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de laHabana, Cuba Tel: 537-293585/225526/246794 Fax: 537-246794 / 537-335217(National Citrus Corporation) Email: iicit@ceniai.inf.cu

Africa Africa Africa Africa Africa and the Indian Oceanand the Indian Oceanand the Indian Oceanand the Indian Oceanand the Indian OceanDrDrDrDrDr. Alois Kullaya. Alois Kullaya. Alois Kullaya. Alois Kullaya. Alois Kullaya, Director, Mikocheni Agricultural Re-search Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-opera-tives, Research and Training Division, Eastern Zone,P.O Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tel: 255 51700552/74605/6 Fax: 2555175549/116504Email: arim@africaonline.co.tzDrDrDrDrDr. Pierre Y. Pierre Y. Pierre Y. Pierre Y. Pierre Yavo N’choavo N’choavo N’choavo N’choavo N’cho, Director de la Station de ResearcherMarc Delorme, Centre National de RechercheAgronomique (CNRA), 07 B.P. 13 Abidjan, Côte d’ Ivoire.Tel: 225-248872/248067 Fax: 225-226985/248872

Asian and the Pacific Coconut CoAsian and the Pacific Coconut CoAsian and the Pacific Coconut CoAsian and the Pacific Coconut CoAsian and the Pacific Coconut Communitymmunitymmunitymmunitymmunity (APCC) (APCC) (APCC) (APCC) (APCC)DrDrDrDrDr. P. P. P. P. P. G. Punchihewa. G. Punchihewa. G. Punchihewa. G. Punchihewa. G. Punchihewa, Executive Director, 3rd Flr. LinaBuilding, H.R Rasuna Said, Kav.B-7 Kuningan, P.O Box1343 Jakarta 12920, Indonesia Tel: 62-21-5221712 Fax:62-21-5221714 Email: apcc@indo.net.id

COGENT SecretariatCOGENT SecretariatCOGENT SecretariatCOGENT SecretariatCOGENT SecretariatDrDrDrDrDr. Pons Batugal. Pons Batugal. Pons Batugal. Pons Batugal. Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator, IPGRI RegionalOffice for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania, P.O Box 236, UPMPost Office, Serdang 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Ma-laysia. Tel : 603 942 3891 Fax : 603 948 7655 Email:p.batugal@cgiar.org

COGENT 3

Latin America and the CaribbeanLatin America and the CaribbeanLatin America and the CaribbeanLatin America and the CaribbeanLatin America and the CaribbeanDrDrDrDrDr. . . . . E. Almeida TE. Almeida TE. Almeida TE. Almeida TE. Almeida Tupinambaupinambaupinambaupinambaupinamba, Head of Coconut Germplasm

Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China,Myanmar and the Philippines are thecurrent members of COGENT’s South-east and East Asia sub-network.

Under the ADB-funded project, activi-ties conducted included the collecting,evaluation and conservation of coco-nut germplasm carried out togetherwith the application of standard pro-tocols on coconut genomic DNA isola-tion, embryo culture and microsatellite(SSR) molecular markers.

The IFAD-funded project supports re-search projects on the evaluation of co-conut varieties and hybrids for sapyield and sugar production in Indone-sia, intercropping coconut in Malaysiaand in the Philippines, and the screen-ing of varieties for sugar productionand improvement of quality of granu-lated sugar in Thailand. The DFID-funded projects on refinement of pro-tocols for embryo culture, monitored byErlinda Rillo, the Embryo CultureProject Network Coordinator under thePCA, were reported to be progressingwell.

The ‘Workshop on Lethal Diseases ofCoconut caused by Phytoplasmas andtheir Importance in Southeast Asia’was held in Manado, Indonesia on 16– 17 February 1998. The meeting dis-cussed the impact of these diseases onrural communities in Indonesia. Theworkshop also formulated strategies forrehabilitation of the affected areas.There was a general consensus thatphytoplasma-caused diseases are themost important single threat to globalcoconut production. Farmer participa-tory research on coconut diversity train-ing workshop was also conducted inDavao, Philippines in March 1998.

Carlos Carpio, Deputy Administrator,Agricultural Research & DevelopmentBranch, Philippine Coconut Authority(PCA), Philippines.

Southeast andEast Asia

South Pacific

Currently, eight member countries form theSouth Pacific sub-network, namely: CookIsland, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea,Solomon Island, Samoa, Tonga andVanuatu. The other island nations such asMarshall Island, Tuvalu, Palau and theFederated States of Micronesia are beingconsidered as potential members.

The ADB Phase 2 project activities in theSouth Pacific sub-network involving allmembers focus on the collecting, evalua-tion, characterization and conservation ofcoconut genetic resources. In Tonga, theNiu ‘Utongau ecotype (with sweet greenhusk that is popular with children) ofOnoiki Island in the Ha’apai group ofislands was characterized and theseednuts collected.

The IFAD-funded projects in Tonga, Fiji,Solomon, Vanuatu and Samoa focus onthe farmer participatory research on multi-purpose uses, identification of farmers’ va-rieties, evaluation of coconut-based farm-ing systems and promotion of recom-mended technologies as part of the effort toenhance farmers’ income and coconutgermplasm conservation.

There are several issues affecting theprogress of the projects. Among them arelimited number of technical staff; lackof training activities; national, regional andinternational priorities that may vary; andconstraints in regards to time, funding andcommunication. Follow-up training, at-tachment with other institutions and de-gree-level training are needed.

Malcolm Seumanutafa Hazelman, Chairman(COGENT) 1997-1998, former AgricultureManager, South Pacific Commission (SPC), Fiji.

South AsiaSub-network Reports

Current member countries of the SouthAsia sub-network are Bangladesh, In-dia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Kidu in Karnataka, India, was selectedas the site for the International Coco-nut Genebank for South Asia (ICG-SA).A total of 14 self/inter-se accessionshad been planted with another 13 ac-cessions ready for planting. The acces-sions include Indian cultivars andsome exotic germplasm.

In Bangladesh, collecting and evalua-tion of germplasm for tender nuts withIFAD funding was initiated early 1999.Meanwhile, under the regular researchprogramme of the Bangladesh Agricul-tural Research Institute (BARI), theexisting germplasm maintained at theRegional Horticultural Research Cen-tre (BARISAL) have been evaluated. Astudy on the performance of existingtender nut germplasm was also con-ducted.

Another activity conducted in SriLanka was germplasm characteriza-tion of four accessions using DNA andmorphological methods. Elevenecotypes collected in ADB Phase 1project have been planted.

Under the collecting, multiplicationand in situ conservation component,four populations of 40 palms each fornon-seasonal Thembili (King) havebeen identified and 775 seednuts ob-tained through self-pollination wereplanted.

S.P Ghosh, Deputy Director General,Indian Council of Agricultural Research,India.

COGENT 4

A p p r o x i m a t e l yseven-year oldMakapuno coconutpalms derivedthrough embryo cul-ture at the Albay Re-search Centre, Philip-pine Coconut Autho-rity. Picture courtesyof ShaharudinSaamin.

Latin America andthe CaribbeanMember countries are Brazil, Mexico,Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana,Haiti, and Trinidad-Tobago.

Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica are pro-ducing the local hybrids according toschedule, for the CFC-funded multi-location trial project. In September, theembryo culture work to verify the fourestablished protocols conducted byCPATC/EMBRAPA in Brazil was ini-

At present, eight countries, namely:Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles,Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire,Ghana and Nigeria form the Coco-nut Genetic Resources Sub-Networkfor Africa and Indian Ocean (CGRN-AI). The sub-network was establishedto promote collecting, conservation,characterization, evaluation, useand exchange of coconut genetic re-sources in the region. It also aims toaccelerate the development and useof improved coconut varieties andhybrids which would eventuallypromote the replanting and sustain-able coconut production in the re-gion.

Several initiatives are being imple-mented in the region. Côte d’Ivoire,Benin and Tanzania are collaborat-ing with Brazil, Mexico and Jamaicain the implementation of a multi-lo-cation coconut variety trial projectwhich is funded by the CommonFund for Commodities (CFC). Thisfive-year project aims to assist na-tional research institutions in eva-luating and identifying improvedcoconut varieties/hybrids most suit-able for their respective countries.

A project entitled “Improvement ofin vitro techniques for collecting andexchange of coconut (Cocos nuciferaL.) germplasm” is currently beingimplemented in Tanzania. Fundedby DFID, the project aims to test 4embryo culture protocols and to op-timize the acclimatization proce-dures for weaning coconut in vitroplantlets.

Two African member countries, Côted’Ivoire and Tanzania are participa-ting in a survey to assess the perfor-mance of high yielding coconut va-rieties being grown by farmers andlarger holdings. This project isfunded by IFAD, APCC andBUROTROP.

Trainees from 5 COGENT membercountries (Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria,Seychelles and Tanzania) attendedthe 2nd International Workshop and

Africa and the Indian Ocean

tiated in accordance with the pro-posal submitted to COGENT. Brazilpresented the proposal to host the In-ternational Coconut Genebank forLAC at the 7th COGENT SteeringCommittee meeting in Papua NewGuinea.

In Mexico, activities conducted in-cluded the 1st National Coconut Con-ference held in January 1998, togetherwith the STANTECH TrainingCourse. Mexico also obtained pollenfrom Côte d’Ivoire. Jamaica played hostto coconut researchers from Hondu-ras and the Bahamas where a fami-liarization activity on coconut hybri-dization techniques was conducted.

The spread of the lethal yellowing di-sease continues. In the Caribbean, thedisease is reported to be active inHispaniola, Turks, Caicos Is., and theBahamas. And on the mainland, it isrampant in Mexico, Belize and Hon-duras. In Mexico, the disease had ap-peared for the first time in the PacificCoast coconut-growing region. InHaiti and Jamaica, there are certainareas where the incidence of the le-thal yellowing disease was muchhigher than previously observedamong populations of MalayanDwarfs and their hybrids. Breedingfor resistance continues in Jamaicaand Mexico. Hybrid seed gardens areoperating in Belize and are being es-tablished in Honduras.

Basil Been, Director of Research, CoconutIndustry Board, Jamaica.

Sub-network Reports

COGENT 5

L a b o r a t o r yCourse on “TheApplication ofBiotechnologyto Plant Breed-ing and CropProtection in Co-conut” orga-nized by MaxPlanck Instituteof Germany andthe TanzanianMikocheni Agri-cultural Re-search Institutein August, 1998in Dar es Salaam. The event was or-ganized under the INCO-DCProgramme funded by the EuropeanUnion.

In another effort to boost the coconutindustry in the region, a project pro-posal entitled “Promoting coconutgenetic resources for sustainable co-conut conservation and utilizationin Africa and Indian Ocean coun-tries” was drafted and presented toCOGENT Steering Committee for en-dorsement. Its establishment wouldinvolve research collaboration ofR&D institutions from Comoro,Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles,Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire,Ghana and Nigeria.

Alois Kullaya, Director, MikocheniAgricultural Research Institute (MARI),Ministry of Agriculture and Co-opera-tives Research and Training Division,Tanzania.

Basil Been (in the middle), former Chair of COGENTSteering Committee, visiting Tanzanian research project.

Indonesia

Coconut is a strategic commodity inIndonesia in terms of its economic roleand its value as a socio-cultural crop.Nevertheless, the industry faces twomain problems: low farm productiv-ity and unstable market price leadingto low income generated from coconutfarms.

Aside from the unstable world marketprice of coconut oil, the low returnsfrom the coconut is also due to the factthat it is mostly cultivated as a mo-noculture crop with copra as the pre-dominant commodity. Other potentialby-products such as coconut husk,shell, water, and wood are, in general,left behind as waste in the farm. Tosome extent, such materials are con-verted into products of economic valuein some coconut producing regionssuch as Lampung, Riau, and NorthSulawesi provinces where processingindustries are available. Intercroppingis an alternative practice and in cer-tain areas, it is practised with low tech-nology inputs.

The Government of Indonesia (GOI),since the early 1970’s, has made se-veral efforts to develop the coconut in-dustry. In general, the objectives are toimprove the small farmers’ welfare,and to increase the supply of copra inthe domestic market. Four main pro-grammes are being carried in order toachieve the objectives, namely,extensification, intensification, rejuve-nation and rehabilitation.

Extensification is mainly focused onopening new areas for coconut plant-ing using local selected Tall and thehybrid, PB 121. The Government ofIndonesia, with financial assistancefrom the World Bank initiated several‘Smallholder Coconut DevelopmentProjects’ (SCDP) in the late 1970’s toincrease coconut production andfarmers’ income by utilizing earlybearing and high-yielding hybrids.The intensification, rejuvenation andrehabilitation programmes were con-ducted using GOI’s own budget. Theintensification programme providedfarmers with modern inputs such as

By Amrizal Idroes and David Allorerung*

inorganic fertilizers to increase theircoconut production. In line with thisprogramme, a low-interest creditscheme was provided to farmers. Therejuvenation and rehabilitationprogrammes focused on activities torejuvenate and rehabilitate coconutpalm areas by introducing or repla-cing palms with selected local tall va-rieties or hybrids as planting material.

The Research Institute for Coconutand Palmae (RICP) implements the re-search programme for coconut in In-donesia. It is a national research insti-tute under the Agency for Forestry andEstate Crops Research and Develop-ment (AFECRD).

RICP is structured to accomplish itsmandate through five main coconutresearch programmes, namely, the im-provement of potential coconut geneticresources, development of product di-versification and strengthening farmerinstitutions, marketing and commod-ity analysis, pest and disease control,and improvement of land utilizationefficiency under coconut.

The objective of coconut genetic im-provement is to diversify selected co-conut types to meet users’ require-ments. . The main target of productdiversification research programme isto develop appropriate small-scale co-

conut processing for rural sites to besupported by strong farmer organiza-tions which will run the processingunits.

The crop protection researchprogramme is focused on studying theeffectiveness of bio-insecticide to con-trol Sexava nubilla, and to study theetiology and epidemiology of budrotand nutfall diseases caused byphythopthora, and coconut wilt diseasecaused by phytoplasma. The intensi-fication research programme is gearedtowards developing the technologypackage for efficient land utilizationunder coconut through modifying theexisting farm technologies such asplanting systems, and efficient inter-cropping.

In the last five years, several technolo-gies have been developed as a resultof the research. These include techno-logy on coconut rejuvenation system,intercropping under coconut, and ef-ficient fertilizer application. Within thenext five years, RICP will launch fournew hybrids and release an appro-priate technology on integrated coco-nut processing for the rural areas.

*Director and Economist/Head of Re-search Planning, respectively, ResearchInstitute for Coconut and Palmae, Indone-sia.

National Programme Reports

COGENT 6

Selfed Mapanget Tall population, one of the parents for breeding, at the ResearchInstitute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP), Manado, Indonesia. Picture courtesy ofShaharudin Saamin.

National Programme Reports

Coconut is the most widely grownplantation crop in Sri Lanka, occu-pying about 442 400 ha of land outof a total area of about 6.5 millionha. Coconut provides approximately25% of the calorific requirement ofthe average Sri Lankan diet and theannual per capita consumptionstands at 120 nuts. Around 80% ofan estimated total production of2600 million nuts/year is consumeddomestically while exports of copraand oil is about 20% of the product.

The available coconut germplasm inSri Lanka is categorized into threedistinct varieties as typica, nana andaurantiaca. The typica or the talltype is the most widely exploited va-riety and makes up 98% of the coco-nut planting.

Systematic collecting and conserva-tion of coconut germplasm was ini-tiated in Sri Lanka only after 1984. Ithas two objectives, namely, conser-ving the existing biodiversity carriedout through random and biasedsampling of specific populations,and collecting and conservation ofgermplasm showing drought tole-rance, through biased sampling.

Drought tolerance became a priorityin coconut breeding in the mid1980’s. It was observed that withinthe drought-prone areas, certainpopulations and even individualpalms maintained their productivitydespite the severe water deficit. Suchnaturally adapted palms and/orpopulations were identified and re-presentative samples were collectedas part of the germplasm conserva-tion activity. To date, 23 suchecotypes have been identified andconserved.

Collecting activities were focused onlocating and purifying exotic mate-rial that has built up through intro-duction and has become naturalizedunder different agro-ecological con-ditions in Sri Lanka.

By Ursla Fernando, J M D T Everard, Lalith Perera, C K Bandaranayake and Chandrika Perera. *

Sri Lanka

In addition to the above activities,systematic collecting was conductedto conserve representativegermplasm. Two hundred nuts werecollected from each accession/popu-lation of 100 palms and 100 seednutswere sown for conservation while theremaining was used for fruit com-ponent studies.

A total of 57 tall accessions and sixdwarf accessions have been con-served in four ex-situ genebanks du-ring the period of 1989-1998. Most ofthe conserved germplasm consist ofat least 75 palms/accessions. Mean-while, several populations with highyield potential have been identifiedand conserved in-situ. At present, 15of these populations serve as seedsources for the national replantingprogramme, supplementing theseednuts sourced from improvedcultivars.

A systematic germplasm evaluationtrial was initiated in 1994 usingseven selected germplasm acces-sions, namely, Clovis, Maliboda,Moorock , Debarayaya , Margaret ,Ambakelle special, and Ambakelle tallwhich were already in ex-situgenebanks. They were identified tobe diverse based on multivariateanalyses of quantitative characters.

Four distinct germplasm accessions,Moorock, Debarayaya, Kasagala andSt. Annes which showed stable yield-ing ability despite environmentalfluctuations, were crossed to a se-lected pool of proven high and stableyielders at Ambakelle.

Embryo culture technique was deve-loped in coconut to be used as an in-vitro technique for collectinggermplasm from distant locationsand for use as an embryo rescuemethod for propagating the ‘Dikiripol’, a ‘makapuno’ type indigenoustall coconut which would not ger-minate. Two methods have been de-veloped: the direct in-vitro explant-ing in the field for aseptic explant-

ing and culturing, and the slowgrowth method where embryos aredissected and cultured in a specialagar-based medium which sup-presses further growth and develop-ment of embryos without effectingtheir viability.

To complement morphological cha-racterization of conservedgermplasm, biochemical and mo-lecular characterization are also inprogress. The isozyme characteriza-tion methodology has been esta-blished using immature leaf but thepolymorphism expressed by diffe-rent enzyme systems has been li-mited except for esterase and peroxi-dase. Using a combination of mo-lecular markers, detection of thelevel of diversity of the conserved co-conut germplasm of Sri Lanka is nowbeing conducted.

Other activities initiated in SriLanka included the collecting andconservation of 26 accessions in twoex-situ genebanks, a study of the con-served germplasm using a combina-tion of molecular, physiological andin-vitro parameters (ADB projectPhase I and II, respectively), a studyon the improvement of the indi-genous King coconut germplasm tobe used as a natural beverage, anddevelopment of technology for en-hancing the shelf life of King tendernuts for export.

COGENT 7

“He who plants a coconut treeplants food and drink, vesselsand clothing, a home for himselfand a heritage for his children”

- South Seas saying

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*Research team (breeding and geneticimprovement of coconut), Genetics andPlant Breeding Division, CoconutResearch Institute, Sri Lanka.

National Programme Reports

The executing agency of Papua NewGuinea’s national coconut researchprogramme is the Cocoa and CoconutResearch Institute (CCRI). Theprogramme is made up of a number ofcomponents designed to address themajor problems faced by the coconutindustry.

CCRI has implemented a countrywidesurvey in which local germplasm wereidentified, collected and established ina field genebank, located at the StewartResearch Station near Madang.Underlying this work was the principlethat local germplasm may havetolerance to the insect pests affectingthe coconut palm because of naturalselection pressure. The currentgermplasm collections are made up ofa number of trials located in Madangand East New Britain. The programmealso includes the preservation ofeconomically important germplasmfrom the South Pacific region, in theInternational Coconut Genebank for theSouth Pacific (ICG-SP).

Screening for tolerance to insect pestswas also initiated, in view of theseverity of this problem especially inthe New Guinea islands region of thecountry. Several populations amongthe Gazelle Tall variety were used forthis purpose. The objective was to studythe genetic potential of local Tallecotypes for insect tolerance. Breedingcoconut varieties with adequatetolerance to major insect pests, i.e. rhi-noceros beetles and black palm weevil,is undoubtedly the best long-term so-lution to the problem. Research is alsobeing carried out to find effectivecontrol methods. Among these, thedevelopment of a pheromone trap forthe black palm weevil, Rhynchophorusbilineatus. Traps are being developedand tested to lure Oryctes beetles andblack palm weevils using commerciallyavailable pheromones, and Scapanesbeetles (females) using a live male insectin sugar cane cube.

The coconut agronomy programmeincludes a factorial fertilizer trial on hy-brids and nutrition survey work, both

Papua New GuineaBy Tore Ovasuru*

at Stewart Research Station. The ferti-lizer trial aims to establish the best ap-plication rates. An ongoing trial com-pares different methods of replantingTall coconuts with hybrids such as fell-ing and replanting , poisoning andleaving the dead palms standing, andplanting the hybrids under the Talls,which are killed later.

In 1997, CCRI established a researchprogramme to apply a farming systemapproach to investigating promisingintercrop combinations with coconut.

*Section Head, Coconut Breeding, PNGCocoa & Coconut Research Institute, PapuaNew Guinea.

By Evandro Almeida Tupinambá1, Wil-son Menezes Aragão2 and EderlonRibeiro de Oliveira3

Brazil

COGENT 8

Evaluation of cocoa clones as intercrop under coconut in Stewart Research Centre,Madang, Papua New Guinea. Picture courtesy of Shaharudin Saamin.

The national coconut researchprogramme in Brazil is conducted bythe Brazilian Agricultural ResearchCorporation (EMBRAPA) through itsCoastal Tablelands Agricultural Re-search Center – CPATC – located inAracaju, Sergipe, Northeast Brazil.Research is carried out in the areas ofbiotechnology, entomology, plant pa-thology, microbiology, plant breeding,agronomy, biometrics, agriculturaleconomics and sociology. Embrapa

also maintains the CoconutGermplasm Active Bank at CPATC. Inthis germplasm bank, the molecularcharacterization of all the accessionsis being conducted by the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense –UENF, Rio de Janeiro, a partner in atechnical cooperation programme.

Brazil has submitted a proposal forthe establishment of an InternationalCoconut Genebank for Latin Americaand the Caribbean during the 7th

COGENT Annual Meeting. Brazil isalso one of the participants in themulti-location hybrid/variety trialsand technology transfer project, to-gether with other five Latin Ameri-can/Caribbean and African countries.Evaluation of six common hybrids andfour local hybrids will be conductedin each of those countries.

Studies dealing with agroeconomicsurvey to characterize coconut pro-ducers in five states of NortheasternBrazil are currently being carried out.The objectives are to characterize thecoconut productive system, potentialtrading markets for the coconut waterand economic evaluation of the im-pacts of new recommended technolo-gies.

Embrapa is currently selecting prog-enies of dwarf and tall coconuts inorder to develop and evaluate hybridsin 17 states covering all geographicregions of Brazil. The breeding

By Y.P. N’Cho and J.L Konan*

Côte d�Ivoire

National Programme Reports

Coconut plays a major role in theeconomy of Côte d’Ivoire. Côted’Ivoire ranks first in Africa for the ex-port of coconut oil , desiccated coco-nut, and other coconut products.

In 1967, the Government of Côted’Ivoire initiated a nationalprogramme conducted by the Govern-ment Estate Sodepalm. Between 1967and 1980, Sodepalm established 30000 ha of coconut plantations in fivemajor areas of the country; Port-Bouët,Assinie, Fresco, Grand-Lahou andGliké. The coconut programme devel-oped by Sodepalm contributed tre-mendously in reducing poverty in therural areas of the coastal region of Côted’Ivoire.

Two major events have boosted thecoconut sector in Côte d’Ivoire ; the1994 devaluation of the cfa currencyand the privatization ofPalmindustrie, the estate that took overSodepalm. The devaluation has ren-dered the Ivoirian coconut oil verycompetitive in the regional and worldmarkets while the privatization ofPalmindustrie allowed the emergenceof other important companies in thecoconut sector.

Coconut industry in Côte d’Ivoirecould receive a boost from the expand-ing regional market. Oil deficit in Ni-geria and Ghana, the presence of des-iccated coconut factories and copramills in Ghana which depends par-tially on the production of Côted’Ivoire, and the decimation of coco-nut grove in Ghana by the lethal yel-lowing disease are some of the con-tributing factors.

Although the coconut developmentprogramme has been privatized, thegovernment has given some recom-mendations in the long-term nationalagriculture master plan for a strongvalorization and diversification of co-conut products. Replantingprogrammes are highly recommendedin order to sustain an adequate sup-ply of raw materials for the factories.

The Marc Delorme Research Station(formerly IDEFOR) of the new Na-tional Centre for Agronomic Research(CNRA), played a key role in the first1967-80 national coconut programme,conducting activities such as soil sur-veys for establishing the plantations,and providing planting material andtechnical assistance for Sodepalm.This strong linkage between the De-velopment Estates and the station hasallowed the scientists of the MarcDelorme Station to monitor the perfor-mance of the planting materials re-leased to the industrial plantations.

The current research priorities for theCNRA are focused on four researchareas, namely; coconut germplasmconservation and evaluation, breed-ing for disease tolerance and other en-vironmental stresses, breeding for spe-cific technological traits and breedingfor yield. With these objectives, relatedactivities were initiated. The MarcDelorme Research Station was in-volved in a network on the lethal yel-lowing disease. Specific traits, for thedevelopment of more suitable varie-ties for the various needs of the indus-try, are also being screened within ac-cessions and hybrids.

The coconut industry in Côte d’Ivoireflourishes due to the strong relation-ship of the CNRA/Marc Delorme Re-search Station with the other develop-ment programmes and the processingindustries of the coconut sector. Thenew economic situation of this sectorhas also enhanced private coconut de-velopment programmes. The Interna-tional Coconut Genebank for Africaand Indian Ocean, located at the MarcDelorme Research Station offers agood opportunity for creating hybridsand varieties that can be utilized forboth national and regional develop-ment programmes. Furthermore, theincorporation of new specific traits inthe breeding programmes will allowa better valorization of the coconut inCôte d’Ivoire in particular and in WestAfrica in general.

*Director and Breeder, respectively, Sta-tion de Recherche Marc Delorme, CentreNational De Recherche Agronomique(CNRA), Côte d’Ivoire.

COGENT 9

programme aims to select coconut cul-tivars with precocity, high fruit pro-duction, better quality of solid and li-quid albumen, mite and leaf diseasesresistance, drought tolerance andadaptation to different Brazilian eco-systems. Brazil also participates in theCOGENT/coconut embryo cultureproject network, together with 12 coun-tries. The project objective is to vali-date protocols for “in vitro culture”.Research using molecular markerswill be intensified.

Studies dealing with the chemical con-trol of helminthosporiosis, “dry-budrot” disease vector and etiology; andbiological control of “lixas” withhyper parasite fungi are underway.Integrated control of major coconutpests, with emphasis on biologicalcontrol, using pheromone, chemicaland other alternative control mea-sures in partnership with the FederalUniversity of Alagoas, Agrarian Sci-ence University of Para, Embrapa –Humid Tropics (CPATU), Embrapa –Semiarid Tropics (CPATSA) and Ba-hia State Company for AgriculturalDevelopment (EBDA), are also beingcarried out.

Physiological studies are underway toevaluate the soil/plant water relation-ships and coconut ecophysiology. Lo-calized irrigation systems and waterdepth experiments in green dwarf co-conut are in progress.

Research on agroforestry systems (co-conut + perennial fruit crops), withcorn and jack beans in irrigated coco-nut and with annual food crops inrainfed dwarf coconut plantations, arebeing undertaken by Embrapa re-searchers.

1 Genetic resources specialist, 2 Coconutbreeder, and 3 Research and DevelopmentAssociate Chief - Embrapa/CPATC, Brazil.

“One of these nuts is a meal fora man, both meat and drink.”

-Marco Polo

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Feature Article

Coconut is often associated with theexotic, far-flung Pacific islands wherethe sweet juice of the young, tender co-conut quenches the thirst of the sun-burned tourists. Similar scenes hadalso been immortalized in classic wri-tings such as ‘Robinson Crusoe’ andthe ‘Lord of the Flies’, where the read-ers are told of the characters’ depen-dence on the nuts as their source ofnutrition. They can also be found inthe streets of other coconut-growingcountries like India and the Philip-pines, providing cooling refreshmentto the locals.

A nut is young and tender when it issix to nine months old from the fertili-zation of the female flower of the palm.The juice is sweet but not all of theyoung, tender coconut would have thesame sugar content. The condition inwhich the coconuts are grown, thekind of minerals in the soil, the varie-ties and the age of the coconut wouldaffect the taste and quality of the wa-ter in the nuts. The soft, nutritious ker-nel in the nuts complements the sweetliquid to make it a wholesome drink.It also brings good news to the health-conscious people as it contains carbo-hydrates, nutrients such as calciumand iron, and has low fat content.

Young, tender coconut water is nor-mally consumed in its natural state,with one end of the nut sliced and thewater drank immediately. It does how-ever, comes in other forms. ‘Egg coco-nut’, for example, is a type of productconsisting of the whole kernel pulledout from the shell with the liquid stillintact in it. A feedback from a commer-cial processor of ‘egg coconut’ in Ma-laysia, indicates that Malayan YellowDwarf is preferable because the huskand shell is soft and easy to manage.Its smaller size is also more appealingto the general consumer.

In his paper, ‘Technologies on envi-ronment-friendly young, tender coco-nuts’, Dr Syed Kamaruddin SyedWazir, a senior analyst with MIGHT(Malaysian Industry-GovernmentGroup for High Technology), la-

Young, tender coconut: research to improve its potential

mented the fact that the planting ofdwarf coconuts for the production ofyoung, tender nuts has not been exten-sively established in many coconutgrowing countries although the indus-try has shown to be profitable in coun-tries like Malaysia and Thailand. Hewent on to say that the planting of se-lected varieties such as the MalayanYellow Dwarf, Chowghat OrangeDwarf (India), King Coconuts (SriLanka) or Nam Hon (Thailand) in spe-cific localities, would not only be inharmony with the environment, butwould also beautify the landscape andgives growers higher returns from thenuts.

Four countries, namely: Sri Lanka,Bangladesh, India and Fiji, are cur-rently undertaking research on young,tender nuts under the IFAD-fundedproject. The projects focus on identify-ing suitable varieties for young, tendercoconuts and developing viable tech-nologies and marketing systems in-volving women. Information and feed-back from coconut farmers are acquiredthrough the farmer participatory sur-

COGENT 10

Malayan Yellow Dwarf is the preferredyoung, tender coconut in Malaysia. Pic-ture courtesy of Au Wai Fong (Ulu DusunAgricultural Research Station, Sabah,Malaysia).

veys (FPR). In India, suitable varietiesfor young, tender coconuts were iden-tified while in Fiji, characteristics of 9– 12 farmers’ varieties based on infor-mation gathered through five selectedvillages were documented.

Several activities were conducted toenhance the profitability and market-ability of young, tender coconuts. InIndia, three stalls, operated bywomen, were organized to assess theeconomic benefits. The developmentof an appropriate technology for theprofitable utilization of the mesocarpand endocarp of tender nut was ini-tiated in CPCRI. Sri Lanka is develop-ing non-seasonal variety with cha-racteristics suitable for tender nuts.Four populations were identified, thepalms self-pollinated and 710 of theprogenies sown in the nursery. SriLanka also studied the suitable age ofharvest and the conditions needed toprolong shelflife of tender nuts. Thesuitable age was identified at sevenmonths with cling film as the bestwrapping material and 14 – 160 C asthe best storage/shipping tempera-ture. The study identified low produc-tivity as one of the reasons for thefarmers’ failure to meet the market de-

In some parts of Malaysia, thewater of young, tender coconut isalso consumed in a different way.Tender nuts are burnt for an houror so until three quarter of the huskturns black and drunk when it islukewarm or cooled. They are ap-propriately called ‘burnt tendernuts’. It said to be good for curingasthma, food poisoning and re-ducing high blood pressure.

mand.

Research on young tender coconut isprogressing well in COGENT mem-ber countries. It is hoped that this re-search project will not only lead to bet-ter-tasting nuts but more important, itwill enhance the incomes of resource-poor farmers and benefit more women.

Shalizahanim Shukor, CommunicationAssistant, COGENT Secretariat.

The Bureau for the Development ofResearch on Tropical Perennial OilCrops (BUROTROP), is a non profit-making association, registered inFrance in January 1995. Its mandateis to assist, strengthen and furtherdevelop research on tropical peren-nial oil crops. BUROTROP has 94active members and 1250 associatedmembers.

The contributions by BUROTROP,with the help of CTA, made possi-ble the participation of 33 scientistsin eight important meetings. It ena-bled researchers, often isolated insmall national structures, the oppor-tunity to interact with their col-leagues from other countries andcontribute to and benefit from eachother ’s programmes within theBUROTROP network. These includethe two APCC COCOTECH meet-ings in Manila, Philippines (July1997) and in Bali, Indonesia (July1998), the Multilocation Variety/Hybrid Trials Workshop and CO-GENT Steering Committee Meeting,held back-to-back withBUROTROP’s Programme Commit-tee in Abidjan (November 1997) andthe International Symposium on Co-conut Biotechnology at CICY,Mexico (December 1997).

BUROTROP also contributes to thedirect funding of selected researchand training projects. The CoconutProcessing Technology Skills Deve-lopment Training for the SPC, inDavao City, Philippines (April1997) is one such project. A Manualof Procedures was produced whichprovides the details of 17 coconutprocessing technologies in simpleterms for would-be entrepreneurs.Another project is the ongoingAPCC project on the assessment ofthe performance of high yieldingcoconut varieties/hybrids and thevarietal preference of coconut farm-ers. This study is being conductedthrough a survey by national con-sultants in 18 countries. The long-

Bureau for the Development of Research on TropicalPerennial Oil Crops (BUROTROP)

COGENT Partner Institutions

term project objective is to providepolicy directions to increase coco-nut productivity and contribute tothe sustainable development andglobal competitiveness of the coco-nut industry. The third project wason coconut molecular markers, withLong Ashton Research Station(LARS), UK, and CIRAD, France,using material supplied by the Phi-lippines and Côte d’Ivoire. Theproject compared SST and RFLPmarkers on the same material for di-versity studies and tried to establisha preliminary linkage map of a hy-brid population. The results arenow being interpreted.

Attending scientific and technicalmeetings provides opportunities forBUROTROP to exchange informa-tion and ideas with the participantsand to generate new initiatives. Onesuch meeting was the Regional Co-conut Project Formulation Meetingin Kingston, Jamaica, from 7 to 10July 1997 for the establishment ofthe LAC regional coconut network.This was co-funded by COGENTand IICA.

BUROTROP’s participation inpolicy meetings enables it to speakfor its members and clients, and toinfluence decisions taken. One suchmeetings was the European Collo-quium on Agricultural Research forDevelopment in Montpellier (Sep-tember 1997), where BUROTROPwas cited as an effective example ofa North-South network involvingall kinds of members of the indus-try as well as partners from Euro-pean research organizations.

Other activities included the publi-cation and dissemination ofBUROTROP’s Bulletin No. 12 andthe General Overview of Oil Palmin Africa, prepared in collaborationwith AFOPDA. BUROTROP Website has also been established andcan be viewed at http://

www.burotrop.org.

The year also saw the relocation ofBUROTROP’s headquarters fromParis to Montpellier and the selec-tion by the Board of a new Director,seconded from CIRAD as a contri-bution from the French Governmentto BUROTROP.

BUROTROP considers that the in-terventions made during the yearunder review, and during earlieryears, have resulted in increased re-search activities in both oil palmand coconut. Events organized byits partners have also been en-hanced through its support in fund-ing the participation of key persons.Any deficiencies in the content andbalance of its programme will becorrected in the coming year to theextent made possible by donors andpartners.

*Directeur Burotrop, Agropolis Inter-national, Montpellier, France.

COGENT 11

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It was unknown to the westernworld until the 6th century,when it was imported intoEgypt from the Indian Ocean—and still made little impression,though Marco Polo recognizedit as “Pharoah’s nut” when heran across it in India on histravels. In the Middle Ages, co-conuts were so rare and so cher-ished that their shells were pol-ished and mounted in gold. Bythe 19th century, however, newtransportation routes madethem common in Europeanmarkets—and throwing objects(“coconut shies”) at local sideshows.

By Francois Rognon*

The Asian and Pacific Coconut Com-munity was established in 1969 andwas the first intergovernmental orga-nization to be set up on a single com-modity basis in the region. At present,APCC has 13 member countries,namely; Federated States ofMicronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Ma-laysia, Papua New Guinea, Philip-pines, Solomon Islands, Samoa, SriLanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet-nam.

The Secretariat of the Community islocated in Jakarta, Indonesia. It coor-dinates activities with the memberstates through a network of nationalliaison officers drawn from govern-ment agencies that are involved withthe coconut industry in the respectivecountries.

The objectives of the Community areto promote, coordinate and harmonizeall activities of the coconut industry.To achieve these objectives, the Articlesof Agreement provided for 15 func-tions covering different aspects of theindustry. The plenipotentiary de-legates of the member countries meetat least once a year to draw up plansand discuss policy matters affectingthe industry, at national, regional andinternational levels, guidelines andprogramme of activities for the follow-ing year. The meeting also reviews theprevious year’s programme both at na-tional and regional level.

Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC)

COGENT Partner Institutions

APCC realizes the important role in-formation plays in the development ofthe industry. For this purpose the Sec-retariat of the APCC functions as theregional center in a network for col-lection, analysis, packaging and dis-semination of coconut information.Information is disseminated in vari-ous forms such as journals (CORD,COCOMUNITY, COCOINFO Interna-tional), proceedings of meetings, coun-try studies, technological sheets, direc-tories, statistical year books and videodocumentaries.

APCC, from its inception, has pro-moted programmes for product andmarket diversification. Studies hadbeen conducted to identify constraintsand potential for expansion of mar-kets for coconut products. APCC wasalso instrumental in bringing togetherexporters of coconut products on acommon platform in order to haveclose link among themselves and alsowith importers.

APCC realizes the need to maintainhigh quality standards if the coconutproducts are to retain and expandtheir markets. Accordingly, in 1995,APCC with the inputs provided by anexpert group of food scientists drewup a set of uniform quality standardsfor aqueous coconut products whichshould serve as a basis for the coun-tries to follow. APCC also frequentlyarranges training programmes to suitthe varying needs of the countries as a

technology transfer exercise.

Then Secretary General of the UnitedNations, Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali inhis message to the APCC on the occa-sion of its silver jubilee celebrations in1994, stated:

“I do believe that organizations likethe Asian and Pacific Coconut Com-munity has an extremely importantrole to play. Despite the commendableinitiatives that member countries havetaken over the years, individually orcollectively through the Community,a great deal remains to be done. I am,therefore, convinced that strengthenedregional cooperation among coconutproducing countries remain the key tomeeting the challenges that the coco-nut industry will have to face in thecoming years”.

The plenipotentiary delegates to theXXXI APCC Session held in October1994 in Colombo concurred with theviews expressed by the Secretary Ge-neral in declaring their commitmentand political will to accord appropri-ate priority to the development of thecoconut industry at national level andto further strengthened intra- and in-ter-regional cooperation in the area ofproduction, processing, marketing, re-search, information and policy.

*Executive Director, Asian Pacific Coco-nut Community (APCC),Indonesia.

COGENT Databases

COGENT 12

The International Coconut GeneticResources Network (COGENT) is de-veloping three databases; the Coco-nut Genetic Resources Database:(CGRD), farmers’ varieties and multi-purpose uses of the coconut, and re-search information.

Centre de Coopération Internationaleen Recherche Agronomique pour leDéveloppement (CIRAD), inMontpellier, France, implements theCGRD project in collaboration with

COGENT member countries. TheCGRD stores passport and characte-rization data of coconut accessionsfrom the member countries.

Farmer Participatory Research (FPR)is a major component of the IFADproject being conducted by the par-ticipating COGENT member coun-tries. In these surveys, the farmers willidentify and describe coconut varie-ties being grown and their multi-pur-pose uses using their own terminolo-

gies. The data and information ob-tained will be developed into a data-base and shared with member coun-tries. COGENT will also establish acoconut research information basewhere it will identify, source, docu-ment and disseminate information ofcompleted activities from membercountries, partner institutions anddonors.

The databases are set-up in IPGRI-APOregional office in Serdang, Malaysia.

By P.G Punchihewa*

Ongoing Projects

Coconut Genetic Resources Network andHuman Resources Strengthening in Asia andthe Pacific (Phase II)

The project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)involves 20 countries; China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malay-sia, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is-lands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu andMarshall Islands. The two objectives of the project are,firstly, to develop sound environmental management ofcoconut genetic resources in Asia and the Pacific throughsustainable conservation and utilization of the coconut,and secondly, to organize high quality training courses onplant genetic resources to strengthen human resourcesneeds for sustainable conservation and utilization of thecoconut. These objectives support the governments’ goalsto increase coconut productivity, reduce poverty and con-serve plant genetic diversity.

Sustainable Use of Coconut Genetic Resourcesto Enhance Incomes and Nutrition of Coco-nut Smallholders in the Asia-Pacific Region

The project is funded by the International Fund for Agri-cultural Development (IFAD) and involves 14 countries:China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philip-pines, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, SolomonIslands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The project’s objectives are:enhancing national agricultural research system (NARS)capacity in participatory technology development in coco-nut conservation and utilization, and improving income-generating potential of coconut production systems. Over-all, the project’s strategy is to promote genetic resourcesconservation and use through the increase in yield of cul-tivars, smallholders’ income through high value products,and productivity per unit area.

Improvement of In Vitro Techniques forCollecting and Exchange of Coconut(Cocos nucifera L.) Germplasm

The project is funded by the Department for InternationalDevelopment (DFID), U.K.

Thirteen embryo culture laboratories are refining embryoculture and acclimatization technology using local andmajor regional varieties under local laboratory conditions,and developing a protocol for medium-term conservation.The participating research laboratories are: Institute forResearch through Development (ORSTOM), France;Centrode Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Mexico; CentralPlantation Crops Research Institute, India; Coconut Re-search Institute, Sri Lanka; Research Institute for Coconutand Palmae, Indonesia; Albay Research Center, PCA, Phil-ippines; Department of Agriculture, University of Philip-pines Los Banos, (UPLB), Philippines; Institute of PlantBreeding, UPLB, Philippines; Centro de PesquisaAgropecuaria dos Tabuleiros Costeiros, EMBRAPA, Bra-zil; Stewart Research Center, CCRI, Papua New Guinea;Agricultural Research Institute at Mikocheni, Tanzania;Instituto de Investigaciones de Citricos y Frutales, Cubaand Wenchang Coconut Research Institute of the ChineseAcademy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), China.The project also supports training of coconut researchers,workshops, meetings and publications worldwide.

Coconut Germplasm Utilization and Con-servation to Promote Sustainable CoconutProduction

The project is funded by the Common Fund for Commodi-ties (CFC). Six countries are participating in themultilocation hybrid/varietal trials project, namely: Côted’Ivoire, Benin, Tanzania, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil. The5-year project aims to address the problem of low produc-tivity of the coconut. The objectives of the project are toassist national programmes in conducting multi-locationtrials to identify suitable varieties/hybrids for yield im-provement and enhanced adaptation in six coconut-grow-ing African and Latin American/Caribbean countries(Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Brazil, Jamaica andMexico), and to evaluate germplasm x environment inter-action, which will serve as a guide to the application ofresults to other countries with similar cultivation condi-tions.

COGENT 13

Six-month old embryo cultured Rennel Tall using the PCA protocol atthe Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP), Indonesia.Picture courtesy of Nurhaini Mashud (RICP).

PublicationsManual on Standardized ResearchTechniques in Coconut Breeding(STANTECH)

The STANTECH Manual enablescoconut breeders and germplasm re-searchers worldwide to use stan-dardized techniques in breedingand germplasm conservation. It ishoped that the manual would as-sist coconut researchers in obtain-

ing better and comparable research results to accele-rate the development of improved varieties for millions ofcoconut farmers.

Coconut Breeding - Proceedingsof Workshop on Standardizationof Coconut B reeding ResearchTechniquesPort Bouet, Cote d�Ivoire20 � 25 June 1994

The proceedings present the coconutbreeding programmes in 16 coun-tries: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia,

Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Fiji,Vanuatu, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania,Mexico and Jamaica.

Proceedings of the COGENTRegional Coconut GenebankPlanning WorkshopPekanbaru, RiauIndonesia26 � 28 February 1996

This publication provides a com-prehensive overview of COGENT’splans for the establishment of a

multi-site International Coconut Genebank.

Viroid-like Sequences of CoconutProceedings of a MeetingKajang, Malaysia21 � 23 April 1997

Recognizing the need to resolve theissue of viroid-like sequences in co-conut, ACIAR, IPGRI and COGENTorganized a workshop in whichparticipants from laboratories inAustralia, France, Italy and the Phi-

lippines presented summaries of their research and dis-cussed the quarantine relevance of the viroid-like se-quences in coconuts. The results of the workshop led tothe formulation of the Addendum to the FAO/IBPGR Tech-nical Guidelines for the Safe Movement of CoconutGermplasm

Promoting Multi-purpose Usesand Competitiveness of theCoconutProceedings of a WorkshopChumphon, Thailand26 � 29 September 1996

This publication contains valuableinformation that could promote abetter understanding of the oppor-

tunities that exist in generating highly profitable coconutproducts.

Coconut Embryo In Vitro CultureProceedings of the FirstWorkshop on Embryo CultureBanao, Guinobatan, Albay,Philippines27 � 31 October 1997

For every embryo lost, there is a pos-sibility that an important diversity

may be lost. In order to address this concern, the work-shop was organized to assess the status of the coconutembryo culture and acclimatization technologies, and toupgrade and standardize the protocols so that more coco-nut researchers could use it with better efficiencies. Theproceedings contain papers on status of embryo cultureresearch in 10 laboratories, the research gaps identifiedand the research projects designed to address these re-search gaps.

Addendum to the FAO/IBPGR Technical Guidelines forthe Safe Movement of Coconut Germplasm (1997)

The update is based on discussions of new research resultsconcerning viroid-like sequences in coconut, which were heldat a meeting sponsored by ACIAR, the Australian Centre forInternational Agricultural Research, in April 1997 in Serdang,Malaysia. The addendum states “Several viroid-likenucleic acid sequences related to cadang-cadang viroidare widely distributed in coconuts and understorey plants.They are not proven disease-causing agents and shouldtherefore not be considered to be of quarantine signifi-cance”.

COGENT 14

For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad-For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad-For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad-For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad-For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad-dress provided on the back cover of the newsletterdress provided on the back cover of the newsletterdress provided on the back cover of the newsletterdress provided on the back cover of the newsletterdress provided on the back cover of the newsletter.....

Coconut riddle...

A childhood riddle asks, “What resembles a woman withunkempt hair waving in the wind?” to which any childwill answer, “A coconut palm”. It is no coincidence thatcomparison of a coconut palm is made with a woman.For it is a motherly figure, in the eyes of hundreds ofgenerations who have been living in the Maldive islands.

Haveeru Daily Online November 12 1998 www.haveeruonline.com

COGENT Bulletin BoardThe COGENT Bulletin Board will serve two main functions: 1) to announce forthcoming activities of COGENT; and 2) toserve as a mechanism for the exchange or transfer of ideas or information.

Below is the list of scheduled activities of COGENT from August to December 1999.Events

Questions & Answers

FromFromFromFromFrom: Coconut Research Institute[SMTP:rescri@sri.lanka.net]SubjectSubjectSubjectSubjectSubject: A new infestation in coconut - Sri Lanka

Dear Dr Batugal,

I wish to request your assistance in co-ordinating certainremedial work for a mite infestation in coconut in Sri Lanka.It is normally called as Eryophid mite and classified underAceria. The mites damage the nut and eventually nut for-mation is disturbed or nut fall is experienced. Recently,this has been experienced in India. We came to know thatthis mite infestation has been experienced by South Ameri-can countries for a long time and they have biologicalcontrol methods developed. Can you please direct our re-quest to our counterpart coordinators of South Americafor some assistance in finding out the methods availablethere? W M U FernandoW M U FernandoW M U FernandoW M U FernandoW M U Fernando

FromFromFromFromFrom: Pons Batugal [SMTP:p.batugal@cgiar.org]TTTTTo:o:o:o:o: ‘Diekmann, Marlene’; ‘Tupinamba, Evandro Almeida’;‘Been, Basil’; ‘Wallace, Millicent’; ‘Wallace, Millicent’;‘Nampoothiri, K U K’; ‘Kullaya, Alois’; ‘Carpio, Carlos’;‘Allorerung, David’; ‘Osborn, Tom’; ‘Antonio T Perez(ADB)’; ‘Eden-Green, Simon’; ‘Tabora, Panfilo’; ‘Rognon,Francois’; ‘Rouziere, Andre’; ‘Oropeza Salin, Carlos’;‘Jones, Phil’; ‘Ghosh, S.P.’; ‘Harries, Hugh’; Bhag, Mal(IPGRI-DELHI); Shaharudin Saamin; Engels, Jan (IPGRI);‘Molina, Agustin’CcCcCcCcCc: Zulyana; ‘Fernando, UMU’; ‘Liyanage, M de S’; KenRiley; Paul Quek; Ramanatha Rao; ‘P G Punchihewa’

Dear Colleagues,

Dr W.M.U. Fernando, our colleague from the Coconut Re-

Mites

COGENT 15

search Institute, Sri Lanka, sent this urgent request forhelp regarding the problem of mite infestation in coconutin Sri Lanka. As this pest is also a problem in Africa andLAC, I request our colleagues from these regions to kindlyprovide information and advice on IPM and other controlmeasures. Likewise, our other colleagues would have ac-cess to information and expertise in their respective insti-tutes (i.e. mite specialists, IPM experts, project reports, etc.)that they could tap to assist Sri Lanka. As I will be travel-ling from 27 February to 18 March, may I request you tokindly provide needed information directly to Dr.Fernando, with copy to me so that I could follow it up asneeded. Her email number is indicated in her attached origi-nal email message. Her fax number is (94)31 57391. In ad-dition to the above, I would welcome suggestions on howwe, as a group, could address this problem which is be-coming more serious worldwide.

Thank you in anticipation of your priority attention tothis urgent request. Pons Batugal, COGENT CoordinatorPons Batugal, COGENT CoordinatorPons Batugal, COGENT CoordinatorPons Batugal, COGENT CoordinatorPons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator.....

From: From: From: From: From: Bob.Ikin[SMTP:Bob.Ikin@aqis.gov.au]Sent: Sent: Sent: Sent: Sent: 08 March 1999 10:16

Dear All,

I note that according to the CABI Compendium that thecoconut mite was detected in 1990 but the report was un-confirmed. I am advised by the acarologists at AQIS thatthe most important thing is to get the mites correctly iden-tified as the main control strategy would be biocontrol. Wecannot see that spraying miticides in coconut plantationsas a worthwhile occupation.Mite (eriophids) experts for this pest are advised as -JW Amarine. Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia

continues next page

1. Technical Writing Course 30 August – 3 September 1999 Venue: Los Banos, Philippines Organizer: SEARCA – IPGRI/COGENT

2. Data Analysis Course 6 – 10 September 1999 Venue: Los Banos, Philippines Organizer: SEARCA - IPGRI/ COGENT - UPLB

3. ADB-funded Project Annual Meeting13 - 15 September 1999Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT

4. IFAD-funded Project Annual Meeting 16 – 18 September 1999 Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT

5. 8th Steering Committee Meeting 20 – 22 September 1999 Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT

COGENT Bulletin Board

COGENT 16

From :From :From :From :From : Paula Angelo[SMTP:pcangelo@rgm.fmrp.usp.br]Subject :Subject :Subject :Subject :Subject : Coconut embryo tissue culture

Dear Dr. Batugal,

I am writing to ask for some help. My embryo plants aresuffering oxidation and browning. They develop well un-til 5-10 cm and after that they turn brown, dry and die. Thetemperature in the growing room is very high (almost 40 Cduring the day), the luminosity is around 40 umoles x m-2x s-1. I am using glass tubes with 250 x 245 mm, coveredwith polyethylene. Could you help me or put me in contactwith someone that could help me with suggestions aboutit? Paula Angelo Paula Angelo Paula Angelo Paula Angelo Paula Angelo

Readers are welcome to write aboutReaders are welcome to write aboutReaders are welcome to write aboutReaders are welcome to write aboutReaders are welcome to write aboutissues affecting the coconut. Read-issues affecting the coconut. Read-issues affecting the coconut. Read-issues affecting the coconut. Read-issues affecting the coconut. Read-ers are also encouraged to responders are also encouraged to responders are also encouraged to responders are also encouraged to responders are also encouraged to responddirectly to the writers or to the CO-directly to the writers or to the CO-directly to the writers or to the CO-directly to the writers or to the CO-directly to the writers or to the CO-GENT NewsletterGENT NewsletterGENT NewsletterGENT NewsletterGENT Newsletter. Selected letters. Selected letters. Selected letters. Selected letters. Selected letters

will be featured in each issue.will be featured in each issue.will be featured in each issue.will be featured in each issue.will be featured in each issue.

Beetle attack inMalaysia

From : From : From : From : From : Shaharudin Saamim[SMTP:s.saamin@cgiar.org]Subject :Subject :Subject :Subject :Subject : Beetle attack in Malaysia

Many farmers in the heartland of coconut farms inMalaysia are facing a severe attack of the rhinocerosbeetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) on their mature tall palms,with some farms having more than 80% of dead palms.The main contributing factor was the improper dis-posal of coconut trunks when the neighbouring coco-nut plantations began replanting with oil palm since5 years ago. The coconut trunks have provided exten-sive breeding grounds for the beetles. These resource-poor farmers need help in alleviating this severe pestproblem. The beetle is also causing genetic erosion ofMalaysian germplasm. We would like to have yourexpert recommendations to control the pest.

Embryo culture

From: From: From: From: From: Pons Batugal [SMTP:p.batugal@cgiar.org]

Dear Paula,

This is a further suggestion on lowering the temperature.If you are using flourescent bulbs as light source for thegrowing plants, you may wish to explore modifying theelectrical wiring so that the “ballast” of each flourescentlamp is located outside the growing room. Normally, theballast is the biggest source of the heat in growing rooms.Your electrician in the Centre should be able to modifyyour electrical wiring system as suggested. Pons Batugal,Pons Batugal,Pons Batugal,Pons Batugal,Pons Batugal,COGENT CoordinatorCOGENT CoordinatorCOGENT CoordinatorCOGENT CoordinatorCOGENT Coordinator

This newsletter is published twice a year by the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network(COGENT).

For more information or order requests, please contact us at:

International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT)International Plant Genetic Resources Institute(IPGRI)

Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and OceaniaP.O Box 236, UPM Post Office

Serdang, 43400Malaysia

Tel : (603) 942 3891Fax : (603) 948 7655

Email : ipgri-apo@cgiar.org

The views and opinions expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of COGENT.

Articles may be reproduced with prior permission from COGENT.

Univ. PO Box 6108, Morgantown, WV 26506-6108, USAJ Boczek, Dept Applied Entomology, Warsaw Agricultural Uni-versity, 02-766. Warszawa, ul Nowoursynowska 166, PolandEE Lindquist, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Ag-riculture Canada, NW Neatby Building- CEF, Ottawa K1a C6,Canada. Bob Ikin Bob Ikin Bob Ikin Bob Ikin Bob Ikin