Science is to Wonder and Ponder

Coconut palms in an island. Photo IBSUN

Maldives had abundance of coconut palms though the palms are less today. Maldivians had depended on the coconut palms for their livelihood since the time of our first ancestors. Fishing had been considered the lifeline of Maldivians ignoring the extensive use of coconut palms as people did not have to hunt for the palms. Maldivians would have certainly found it extremely difficult to come to this era without its support.

Today people are more involved in political activities and talks rather than finding and sustaining food resources as people are ignorant about the critical state of survival they would enter once the inflow of foreign food is hindered. A recent US news title read “The Era of Cheap Food has Ended”. This gives a hint of threat to food resources of the world. Moreover price of some of the common daily used food items such as onions have been increasing.  Thus it is time to think about sustaining whatever food resources we have in the Maldives. 

Coconuts have always been a main part of all common food prepared by Maldivians. Moreover, the only thing mainly eaten with fish during early days was coconuts. However, coconuts are not the only thing beneficial for the Maldivians from the coconut palms. The trunk, leaves, husks, coconuts at different stages of growth, the inner shoot, the covering outside the flower pods, etc were all used skillfully by the Maldivians, though the use of some of its parts have become less due to introduction of some foreign products.

Maldivian coconuts ready for sale. Photo IBSUN

Though I have mentioned above some of the parts which can be used, the importance and usage of the parts of the coconut palms is more than that.

Listed below are some major uses of the coconut palm for the Maldivians.

Uses of root: Uses of coconut palm root is not commonly known. Yet there is a possibility that it might be used for medicinal purposes. More over the roots and its strength helps to sustain the sand around the islands of Maldives which are constantly hit by tidal changes and strong waves. Thus though we had been ignorant to think about it the coconut palm roots have kept our islands safe for us since the time of our ancestors.

The trunk: The coconut palm trunks were very useful for Maldivians. Some of the uses were:

1. Boat building: The trunk is a part commonly used by Maldivians for boat building. The trunks were cut into logs and cut to form boat building timber. In the early days people used axes to cut the log into different shapes though it consumed lot of time. Later people used big hand saws for the purpose. The main timber used to build boats before in the Maldives was made from coconut palm trunks.

2. Building Houses: The same timber used for boat building was used for building houses by the Maldivians. Even very recently the main framework for roofs was made by using this timber. The timber is commonly used even today for making resting places at beachside in islands called “Holhu Ashi” in local language.

3. Medicinal use: It was a common practice of early Maldivians to tap the raw trunk of coconut palms to get a colorless and odorless fluid which was used instantly for sore eyes and eye injury. They used to apply the fluid outside the eyelids. 

The stem of palm leaves: The stem of coconut palm leaves were used to make small fences as and as fire wood when dried. The tip of the stem along with the leaves were used to make a garbage carrying container commonly used for carrying garbage after sweeping the ground. Sweeping the compounds daily was a common practice for Maldivians. The stem with leaves was also used to make special objects for festivals such as “ Maali” a monster or “Bodu Mas” a big fish. The dust like brown substance at the bottom of the stem can be used as a quick remedy to heal small cuts instantly.

Coconut palm products used in a festival . Photo IBSUN

Strong net-like covering at the bottom of leaves: This material commonly called “ilaa” in local language, was used as a sieve by early Maldivians.

Palm leaves: Palm leaves were used by early Maldivians as a writing material as paper. Moreover, the leaves were used in treatments with magical charms to tie round the forehead. Palm leaves were also used to make a ball by weaving. They called this ball “Bashi”. Many things like food cover, toys for children and thatch for roofing and making shelters were skillfully made by the early Maldivians. Thatch is commonly woven even today mainly for commercial purposes as the material is needed for tourists resorts.

Eakles: Eakles from the coconut palm leaves are used to make eakle brooms which are commonly used by Maldivians to sweep. Eakles were used even as toothpicks. 

The flowers: The flowers, before the pod is open are used to tap toddy. Toddy is the sweet nectar extracted by using a special technique by toddy tappers. The toddy is used to make a kind of sweetener which was used by early Maldivians to sweeten food and tea.

The coconut: Coconut is used for different purposes during the different stages of its growth. Unlike in most languages “Dhivehi” the Maldivian language has a separate name given for coconuts during its growth. The coconut is commonly used as a food to eat with fish.
It is also used to prepare different food. Moreover, its milk is used in preparing curry and other food. The scraped coconut was used by Maldivians to prepare oil for cooking and for applying on hair and body. Now only very few people prepare oil from coconuts. Coconut juice is a common energizer for Maldivians and this juice is commonly found as refreshment in parties.

Tender coconut juice as refreshment(left in white colour)Photo IBSUN

Coconut husk: coconut husk is the main raw material for preparing rope which is prepared rarely even today. Maldivian coir rope was famous among travelers in the Indian Ocean in the past.

Coconut shell: coconut shells were used by Maldivians in making weighing devices for sticky liquids such as the sweetener 

Coconut husk used for make an ornament. Photo IBSUN

prepared from toddy. The shells were also used to make vessels to carry toddy which is called “Raa badhi” in Dhivehi. The coconut shells are also used make handicrafts.

Coconut palms are certainly of great importance to the Maldivians as it is the main object even in the national emblem. Coconut palms have served a lot in different ways for the Maldivians throughout the history.

Current Issues

Number of coconut palms has become less throughout the country as a result of clearing land for buildings and though Maldives never imported coconuts in the past it has become necessary to do so as the price of coconuts have increased alarmingly due to lack of supply.

Trees are cut down here for building.Photo IBSUN

Though climbing coconut palms was a common practice for Maldivians in the past people who can climb coconut palms are a handful of people in each island now. Thus a lot of coconuts are not utilized in the proper way. 

Several coconut palms are constantly being damaged due to lack of attending to them. Beetles and other pests damage them the coconut palms become only a log. This mainly happens due to lack of people who can climb coconut palms.

The production of materials from coconut palms have become extremely less. Some people have cut down on using coconut milk for preparing food for various reasons including health concerns and lack of availability. Some have adapted the practice of using imported coconut milk powder to prepare curry and other food.

Number of toddy tappers has also become less along with number of people who can climb coconut palms and very few toddy tappers are left in the country.

Making use of coconut palm products have become less and the practice is slowly dying.

Production of coconut oil and use of coconut oil has become extremely less.

Questions to wonder and ponder

If the rate of cutting down coconut palms remain constant will the current rate of planting of coconut palms be sufficient to sustain them for the next hundred years?

Is it better to find an alternative for the coconuts to reduce health issues?

Are any of the common medical problems among Maldivians caused due to constant use of coconuts?

Can a new and easy device be prepared to climb the tall coconut palms?

Can Maldivian toddy tapping and preparing the sweetener from toddy be made a productive industry?

If the rate usage of coconuts has become less due to several reasons, will the Maldivians have to mostly have to depend on imported items instead or will they have to depend on imported coconuts?

What are the steps which can be taken to sustain coconut palms in the Maldives?

Can handicraft industry of coconut palm products be developed?

Can coconut oil production in Maldives become a successful income generator?

We can still think of more questions and find answers too.