Apia, Camoa: A regional conference about coconuts ended last week with participants eager to return home to put what they learnt into action.

Sixteen countries discussed the status of coconut development in the region at Hotel Millennia, Sogi.

Asuao Kirifi Pouono, Samoa’s CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said the coconut plays a vital part in the lives of many Pacific people.

“The coconut tree has various significance in terms of contribution to the GDP for countries and as well as its many uses in subsistent levels,” he said.

The conference was an opportunity for counties to share their experiences on how to improve the industry.

Dr Sivapragasam Annamalai, a representative from Malaysia, said there is great potential for Samoa to benefit from coconuts.

“The Malaysian government is pushing the development of this industry for our country,” she said.
“I see enormous opportunities here if the coconut industry is developed.

“The industry is very small but many of the population depend on this industry.”

For countries with very little knowledge on how to improve the industry such as the Federated States of Micronesia, Kadalino Loreus said the conference was an eye opener.

“Our government is trying to put the industry back into production, and that is why I came, to listen and gain some knowledge,” he said      

“One of the main things I learnt is, we (FSM) need to set up coconut projects like the other countries are doing “

Sekope Bula, of Fiji, said the industry in his country is big.

“The coconut is one of the Pacific region’s greatest exports but we are limited to only copra and coconut oil,” he said.