The Coconut Tree

The coconut or cocosnucifera is one of the most useful and valuable trees in the world. A prolific tree, the coconut can yield thousands of coconuts over its lifespan of approximately 70-100 years. Almost every part of this tree can be useful to humans, including the roots, trunks, leaves, husks, fiber, fruit, water, milk, and meat. This versatile crop requiring little care has been given several titles such as Tree of Life, King of Trees, Jewel of the Tropics, Fruit of the gods, Tree of Heaven, Miracle Tree, Soul Food of the Tropics, Signature Tree of the Tropics, Tree of Abundance, Mother Nature’s Gift to Man, and King of the Tropical Flora.

The coconut also plays a significant role in the economies of many countries dependent on its production, primarily the Philippines. The coconut production amounts to approximately 14 million metric tons per year. The local coconut industry is export-oriented. Approximately 70% of total production is absorbed by the international market in the form of value-added coconut products. Export earnings from the coconut industry also consistently registered the highest among all other agricultural commodities, with coconut oil and desiccated coconut as the main export products.