Part 8/16:
Coconuts (Kokos Nifera) were another vital crop, imported from the Philippines or purposefully transplanted. A versatile resource, coconuts provided cooking oil, street lighting with coconut oil lamps, and copra—dried flesh exported for export. Each Kong or village had its own coconut plantations, vital to the local economy.
However, coconuts faced threats from pests like the rhinoceros beetle, which burrowed into the crown of the trees, causing economic setbacks. The response included measures like establishing coconut tree inspectors—a profession born from the urgent need to combat infestations—and legislation to preserve the coconut groves.