Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness: The National Coconut Workshop

President of the Alumni Association of UPM delivering his welcoming address

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries officiating the Workshop

1. INTRODUCTION. The National Coconut Workshop was organised by the Alumni Association of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) and UPM and held on Tuesday August 9, 2016 at the Chancellory of UPM. The theme of the Workshop is 'Coconut: a Sunrise Industry' and participated by representatives of the key institutions in MOA, the universities and the private sector. Among the distinguished guests present were the Vice- Chancellor of UPM, Y. Bhg Dato' Seri Aini Idris; the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture; and distinguished personalities of UPM Alumni -Tan Sri Arshad Ayob, Tan Sri Rashdan Baba and Tan Sri Mohd Noor Ismail

2. OPENING CEREMONY. The official opening of the one-day Workshop was officiated by the Hon. Minister of MOA. In his welcoming address the President of the Alumni, YAM Dato Seri Syed Razlan Jamalullail, highlighted the many uses derived from various components of this palm - the leaf, the fruit, the flesh, the husk, the oils etc. However, effort to downgrade tropical palm oil industries - coconut and oil palm- in the economic vegetable oils war with other vegetable oils (soybean, corn, safflower) producers in the West, by alleging that the tropical oils contributed to high cheloestrol and therefore not healthy to consume, led to the rapid decline of the coconut industry, from being an important exporter to an extent that the country has to import considerable quantity of coconut to meet its domestic demand. However recent research findings have demonstrated that such coconut products as virgin oils, water, pharmaceuticals are extremely good for health besides other uses in cosmetics. He suggests that the industry needs to be revived and that to push for its development a National Coconut Board be established. The Hon. Minister, in his opening remarks, endorsed the observations made by the Alumni President and went on to narrate how in his younger days coconut oil was used as hair oil as it assisted in delaying greying of hair and its oil was popular in frying. At the same time coconut oils are used extensively for cosmetic products and is considered an effective pharmaceuticals for general health and prevention of diseases. Accordingly he supports the suggestion that the coconut industry be revived as another important commodity that can contribute to the development of the country's agricultural economy. Currently, the Hon. Minister indicated that Malaysia is only the 10th biggest producer of coconut products after Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil and other tropical countries. He added because of the very diversified uses of coconut products, beside food, in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals the demand for it has escalated very high. He therefore endorsed the theme of the Workshop that coconut is a sunrise industry and needs to get our attention. Towards this development he looks forward to close cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and the departments under it and UPM.
3. EXHBITION - The exhibition was held at the foyer of the Chancellory. Among the exhibits were cosmetic products - gel, cream and pharmaceuticals such as virgin oil, ointment; publications.
4. CONCLUDING REMARKS. Attendance at such an intellectual gatherings particularly in agriculture provide the opportunity to get the latest development in the scientific and economic aspects of the industry, renewing and strengthening networking among the professional fraternity and finally to strengthen relationships with friends, a key ingredient to continued happy living.

With iconic members of the Alumni - seated fr right Y. Bhg Tan Sri Rashdan Baba, Y. Bhg. Tuan Hj. Gahzally Salamat. Standing (fr right) Y. Bhg Dato' Seri Aini Idris (VC of UPM), Y. Bhg Tan Sri Arshad Ayob; Y. Bhg. Mr. Habibur Rahman