We will tackle about coconuts , a tree produces many business opportunities from the leaves, fruits, and the body
WHAT IS COCONUT?
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which, botanically, is a drupe, not a nut. The spelling cocoanut is an archaic form of the word.The term is derived from 16th century Portuguese and Spanish cocos, meaning "grinning face", from the three small holes on the coconut shell that resemble human facial features.
Found throughout the tropic and subtropic area, the coconut is known
for its great versatility as seen in the many domestic, commercial, and
industrial uses of its different parts. Coconuts are part of the daily
diet of many people. Coconuts are different from any other fruits
because they contain a large quantity of "water" and when immature they
are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may be harvested for
drinking. When mature they still contain some water and can be used as
seednuts or processed to give oil from the kernel, charcoal from the
hard shell and coir from the fibrous husk. The endosperm
is initially in its nuclear phase suspended within the coconut water.
As development continues, cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the
walls of the coconut, becoming the edible coconut "flesh". When dried, the coconut flesh is called copra. The oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and frying; coconut oil is also widely used in soaps and cosmetics. The clear liquid coconut water
within is a refreshing drink. The husks and leaves can be used as
material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating. It
also has cultural and religious significance in many societies that use
it.
THE BUSINESS THAT COCONUT CAN CREATE
THE LEAVES OR FRONDS
The coconut leaves is strong and flexible. You can weave to make shelters, fence, weave hats and many other things, Even the dried fronds is very useful, the stiff midribs of the coconut leaves when dried it is used to create brooms and this is the part where you can sell.
This is called "Walis Tingting" in PHILIPPINES or "Sapu Lidi" in Indonesia. They gathered all the stiff midribs and bundle it creating a broom. You can market it from school to homes even in the cemetery they used brooms. You have a steady market and a small income just selling this things. Currently the selling retail prices in our country range from 15-20 pesos. Some businessman put a stick on top resembling to a witch broom. They can sell it much higher prices arounf 35-60 pesos.
THE BODY
The body of the coconut tree can be a hardwood substitute a another source of wood,. It is referred as coco timber or coco lumber. The tree bears fruit until approximately 70 years of age, at which point
it is considered to have reached the end of its economic life and is
felled to make way for future crops. So they make it a timber after it is not productive, very clever. I don't know what the retail price of coco lumber you can give comment about the running price.
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| Lumpia sariwa |
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| Heart of coconut palm |
Another part that can be source of an income called the heart of coconut palm or called "Ubod". The Ubod came from topmost section of
the coconut trunk, right up where the leaves were located. They can only get the ubod when the tree is not productive so they cut it down. Ubod is a delicacy, they can be made as "Lumpiang Sariwa or Lumpiang Ubod" with a sweet sauce and sprinkled with peanuts. They chopped Ubod and sell it to the market.
THE ROOTS
The roots are used as a dye, a mouthwash, and a medicine for diarrhea
and dysentery. A frayed piece of root can also be used as a toothbrush. Well there is no profit at all but can use as alternative medicine and for hygiene
THE FRUITS
The fruit of the coconut is very tasty and has many many uses. Can be used as net to stop erosion, can be used as energy or thirst quenchers and many more
Coconut Water s the watery liquid that comes from the young, still immature green
coconut. Often the still jelly-like coconut meat is also added to make a
tropic drink. even Madonna invested a million dollars because of its potential in the Organic Industry. They harvest a young fruit because it has a lot of juices than an older one. If the fruit gets old the liquid will form its meat or White Flesh (solid endosperm) and you get less liquid inside.
A old coconut fruit it has a lot of meat or White Flesh and its quite hard you cannot use spoon to get the flesh. They used special equipment to grate the flesh. The liquid that comes from the grated meat of a coconut is called coconut milk. The color and rich taste of the milk can be attributed to the high oil content. Most of the fat is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a very popular food ingredient in some countries. Nowadays some market sell grated coconut per kilo unlike in the old you buy per fruit.
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil
is extracted from it and has made copra an important agricultural
commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut
cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock. Coconut oil industry declines because of the booming industry of Coconut water and it is more expensive and convenient to the coco farmer and the introduction of Palm Oil in the market which more cheaper to produce than Coconut Oil kills its industry
