Stories by Steve Agbota
Cash crops have been creating millionaires, jobs and sustaining the economy of many nation around the world, just as coconut represents golden chance for Nigeria to rake in over $2.5billion annually.
However, some cash crops in the country like cocoa, cashew, soybeans and others have also penetrated international markets, where the demand for these crops are huge. But unfortunately, coconut value chain remains untapped in the country.
Booming global demand for coconut water, oil and other bi-products is a significant opportunity for the crop to boost exports and job creation.
Recently, the Chairman of Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Mr. Sani Dangote, said Nigeria was losing $1billion yearly from untapped potential in coconut business. He said the losses came because the country was neither developing coconut value chain for domestic use nor exporting it to meet global demand.
He said the potential of the coconut industry to improve the country’s economy and lift coconut farmers from poverty has not yet been fully maximised.
The coconut industry in Lagos alone has huge potential that can contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but needed investment to improve yield, including using hybrid varieties of seeds. On how to become a successful coconut farmer, the Deputy Managing Director of Peniel Gerar International Limited, Ojiefoh Enahoro Martins, said that the potential in coconut farming is huge as export market for the product is increasing every day. He said potential farmers and investors should consider some factors before venturing into the coconut farming business.
Climate
He said coconut needs rainfall level of between 1000 mm. to 3000 mm., 2000 ft and 70 per cent of air moisture, good draining facility, sandy soil rich in humus content, in depth of 3 mts. and soil PH from 6 to 7. He explained that coconut requires temperature from 27˚ Celsius to 36˚ and the tree needs sunlight most but day and night temperature variation at 5˚ Celsius.
Cost of setting up coconut plantation
He said the cost to set up a coconut plantation would obviously vary according to location. The key variables are usually tied to the land (eg. terrain and contour, soil type) and also farm input costs (eg. labour costs, fertilizer prices, planting material costs). Thus, the following costings should be taken only as an approximation to the costs of starting a coconut plantation: Cost of land per hectare N5000, cost of labour N30,000, cost planting, digging and covering per hole N60, cost of coconut seedlings for planting in Nigeria N100 per one and weeding for the first three months N5000.
Land spacing, lifespan
For one acre 25 feet by 25feet spacing, he said, it is recommended to grow 70 trees per acre.
Generally, he said a square system of planting is preferred in West Africa, with a spacing of 7.5 x 7.5 metres, which will accommodate 178 coconut palms per one hectare. However, a spacing of seven to 10 metres is practised in many coconut farms, and the best planting season is between April and May. The harvest and fruiting strength is more 30 years.
Numbers of coconut on a tree
He said that the coconut hybrids can give 250 coconuts per tree per year, leading to annual production of one to 17,000 coconuts per acre, approximately 500 million of water while it gives 200 nuts per tree, which means about 3 ½ tonnes per acre and it gives about 60 per cent of oil. “I advised farmers can do inter-cropping for first three years, but also plant crops like legumes that should be smaller in size. I also recommend the use of hybrid coconut. The main advantage of hybrid plants is that they start flowering from the second year, by third year all the trees will come to flowering stage and from the fourth year all the trees will start to give the yield.”
Where potential farmers can get supports
He said that anybody who wants to venture into coconut farming should approach Nigeria Seed Council, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Bank of Agriculture (BoA). These are the bodies that can give required support.
Varieties
According to him, though many varieties of coconut exist, Western Tall, Tall X Dwarf types of trees are planted for nuts and oil.
Dwarf varieties like Savukot, MalaionEllo Orange and Savukot Green are planted for tender coconut. For big nuts Yazpanam trees and for more nuts Ayiram Kaichi trees are suitable. Likewise Latchaganga released by Central Plantation Coconut Research Institute at India and Philippines is a good yielding avariety. VHC3 variety released by Tamil Nadu Agriculture University in the year 2000 is a high yielding variety. He added: Tall hybrids and dwarf are the major varieties we have in Nigeria.
States where coconut can grow
He explained that in Nigeria, the leading producing states out of the 20 are Niger, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara,Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Lagos and Ogun states. He explained: “The market for coconut is still 100 per cent viable for investment. We are tapping into this goldmine-like opportunity. Next year, we are set to launch 2000 coconut estate phase one in Edo state and our target is the US coconut oil production market.”
On the possibility of coconut estate in Nigeria
Said he: “We can have coconut estate in Nigeria and make millions without stress. The opportunities in coconut business is still 95 per cent untapped. Why I encourage investors to go into coconut farming is that the market demand is high both locally and internationally and return on investment is 80 per cent minimum, while the risk is about one per cent. “At this instance I would also like to put forth the idea that the scientists should apply their education and make strenuous efforts in innovating new methods of coconut crop cultivation, for enhancing the standard of living of the farmers and lead the nation to a greater development”.
Coconut oil is one of the by-products ofthe fruit and is seen as having a variety of applications in beauty, health, and cooking.
Coconut is a very versatile useful plant with a wide range of products being sourced from it. Coconut products are used to make everything from clothing to animal feed to beauty creams. Its kernel is harvested for its edible flesh and delicious water, while its husk is used for its strong fibers.
Most importantly, however, are its oils, which are extracted, processed, and marketed for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic uses alike.
Typically, the flesh is first dried down to six per cent moisture to make copra. This product is then hauled to factories across the world where it is manufactured into oil. Less widely used, but more valuable, “virgin” coconut oil is directly extracted from raw coconut.
