Second look at a famous nut

SO YOU have heard the stern warnings against heavy consumption of coconut oil, because it contains cholesterol and can really affect your coronary health.

The opposite view was put forth at the international conference on `coconut and coconut cultivation', which was held in Chennai for the first time.

Delegates to the conference did some spade work to try and remove what they called was a ``misconception'' about coconut oil. People in this part of the country, which is also a coconut major, are convinced that heavy usage of coconut oil would lead to coronary diseases.

Surprise. Agricultural scientists at the conference claimed in their papers, that coconut oil actually has medicinal effects. What evidence is there to support their claim ? They say even 4000 years ago coconut oil was recognised as a health oil in ayurvedic medicine, which has the qualities of mother's milk, being prescribed by doctors for various eye diseases. Trials have proved successful in controlling the dreaded HiV disease also, they claim, though this is at the moment far from proven.

The case for the coconut was outlined by scientists Dr.Jon K.Kabara, Professor Emerigus, Michigan State University, Illinois and Dr.Conrado S.Dayrit, Professor Emeritus, UP College of Medicine, Philippines.

Coconut products are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Opposition to coconut oil, even in the USA, is due to a strong politico economic lobby of other edible oils. The `Cocotech conference', the four day meet jointly organised by the Asian Pacific Coconut Community and the Coconut Development Board, Kochi, turned the attention of the city to this essential part of everyday cuisine.The discussions at the conference were on the ``falling price'' of coconut and increasing incidence of pest attacks on coconut trees. Consumers would not agree about the pricing, but then the money is made by the middlemen. They will have to wait for a city ``Uzhavar Santhai.''Tamil Nadu stands second in coconut coverage and productivity. But for the last six months coconut growing farmers have been in deep trouble as they are not getting remunerative prices.

Coconut traders in the city say the price has touched rock bottom they are not able to get back even 25 per cent of their investment. This is despite the fact that nearly 75 per cent of coconut trees in the State were affected by a serious mite problem.

They fear that if effective pesticide is not found to control the mite, days are not far off when coconut would become a scarce commodity in the State. (It puzzles everyone that when supply has shrunk and demand remains static, prices are said to be falling).

By S. Vydhianathan

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Section  : Features