The Coconut Development Board is organizing celebrations to mark the 24^th World Coconut Day on 2^nd September. The main theme of this year is – “Cultivate coconut for a happy life and future”. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar will inaugurate this function in Junagadh (Gujarat). During the ceremony, Shri Tomar will inaugurate the Board's State Center at Bahumali Bhavan, Junagadh and announce the winners of the Board's National Awards and Export Excellence Awards. He will also address the farmers. A programme will also be organised in Kochi (Kerala), where the Junagadh event will be broadcast live.

In the main function at Junagadh, Gujarat's Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cow Breeding Minister Shri Raghavjibhai Patel and Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Cow Breeding, Shri Devabhai P. Malam will also participate. Local MP Shri Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama and Porbandar MP Shri Rameshbhai Dhaduk and MLAs of Junagadh district will be the guests of honour. After the programme, technical sessions on good coconut farming practices and marketing will also be held at the Junagadh Agricultural University. About 1,000 coconut-farmers and concerned officials will participate in the programme in Junagadh.

All coconut producing countries of the Asia-Pacific region celebrate World Coconut Day every year on 2^nd September, coinciding with the Foundation Day of the International Coconut Community (ICC). ICC is an intergovernmental organization. The purpose of celebrating Coconut Day is to raise awareness and highlight the importance of coconut and to draw national and international attention to this crop. An international workshop will also be held in Kochi on this occasion.

 

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