Now, a coconut trail to attract tourists

In a first of its kind venture by any coconut producing country, India is mulling launching a 'Coconut Trail' across various states producing the wonder nut, which would give tourists an insight into the rural life and history of the 3000 year-old tradition of coconut culture.

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) which will be launching the 'Coconut Trail' most likely this year, is hoping that tourists would certainly get attracted to the circuit.

The pilot project would be first launched in Kerala at Kumbalangi, a palm fringed fishing hamlet about 30 km from here on July 3 in the presence of Union Minister of state for Agriculture K V Thomas and state Tourism minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CDB Chairman C V Ananda Bose told PTI.

The project's stakeholders in Kerala -- CDB, state Tourism department, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), the Industries department, scientists and local body officials would be participating in a meeting at Kumbalangi on July 3 in this regard, he said.

The trail would take the tourists -- both domestic and International to the coconut growing states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Assam where they will get first hand knowledge of the life of coconut farmers and the various uses of the nut.

The circuit is expected to be finalised and launched this year itself. As part of the Coconut Trail, a Coconut Crop museum exhibiting different varieties of coconut was also being planned, Bose said.

The various activities centered around coconut -- how to climb coconut palms, mechanical way, the Talap system, plucking using animals and women pluckers -- would be shown to the visitors.

Various coir related activities such as manual dehusking and through machines would also form part of the circuit. Not to forget the various mouthwatering delicacies made of coconut that would also be on display.

The people of Kumbalangi, the first Model Tourism village in the country, are excited that the project is coming to their village, says Shivadattan, Kumbalangi Homestay and Tourism Society Director.

The Model Tourism village project and the Rs 70 lakh UNDP project at Kumabalngi have brought it international fame as tourists from all corners flock to see the hamlet. There is better infrastructure now and the local people were happy, he said.

There are 20 homestays and a heritage hotel at Kumbalangi to cater to the needs of tourists. Bose said efforts are being made to involve the coconut clusters involved in coconut planting in the tourism related activities.

They can act as tourist guides and would be trained to man the coconut trail, he said. India is one of the leading producer of coconuts in the world producing about 13 billion nuts annually. Coconut is grown in 18 states and three Union Territories under different Agro climatic conditions.