PROCORD, Global coconut research for development programme (Poster)

PROCORD will facilitate the collaboration of different groups, or stakeholders, to address problems and opportunities which are researchable at the global level by "promoting innovative global partnerships", covering the whole coconut commodity chain, from production to consumption. Background : Main challenges faced by the coconut sector: maintaining the copra sector by increasing its competitiveness and strengthening the profitability of coconut cultivation for growers - 12.8 million hectares, 95% on smallholdings under 4 hectares; preventing the risks of coconut plantations disappearance through lethal diseases; improving the income of producers who depend on coconut cultivation, especially in coastal and insular areas; restructuring the coconut commodity to develop end-uses other than copra and oil, with local added-value - 70% for domestic consumption in producing countries. Outputs : Agreement among all the stakeholders on a common agenda to address research issues in the coconut sector at a global level; participation of stakeholders not directly involved in research broadened the debate; Better cooperation and integration in and support for coconut research; Promotion of complementation and synergy of research activities, and sharing of resources, to avoid unnecessary duplication of research efforts; Translation of research results into usable development options. Activities : Six thematic groups work in close relationships with five regional networks: Southeast and East Asia, South Asia, South Pacific, Africa and the Indian Ocean, Latin America and the Caribbean : 1. Germplasm collection, conservation, evaluation and improvement. 2. Socio-economics and policy support. 3. Control of diseases and pests, especially the lethal diseases. 4. Productivity and sustainability of coconut-based agro-forestry systems. 5. Improvement of the efficiency and value-added benefits in post harvest processing and utilisation. 6. Marketing. Next steps : Consolidation of the technical working groups and preparation of common projects to be submitted for funding.