Coconut plantation value chain has remained
grossly untapped in Nigeria, you must note that. You should know that
there is a booming global demand for coconut
oil, water, and other
by-products. Mr. Sani Dangote, once the chairman of Nigeria Agribusiness Group
(NABG) said that Nigeria was losing approximately $1 billion every year from
the untapped coconut plantation business.
There is a vast
opportunity that is laying waste in coconut plantation business in Nigeria. Just by
hugely investing in coconut plantation farming business, Nigeria can make over
$2.5 billion on a yearly basis. The export market for the product is on the
increase every day.
Why You Should Invest In Coconut Plantation In Nigeria
The major reason you should consider investing in coconut
plantation is the huge opportunities in the value chain of this cash crop.
These opportunities include:
Coconut oil
This oil is seen by many experts as the healthiest oil for human
consumption. The coconut oil is a huge money-making opportunity for coconut
farmers in Nigeria. The coconut oil is used for many purposes that will surprise
you. They include; improving hair quality and strength, serve as wood polish,
and helps improve the cholesterol level of humans.
·
Coconut water
You should know that the coconut water contains electrolytes and
is enriched with abundant of minerals. These minerals include; potassium,
calcium, magnesium, and sodium. This is another reason you should consider
investing in a coconut plantation business in Nigeria. The water also contains
fewer amounts of calories.
· Coconut meat
It is the thick white lining covering the inside of a mature
coconut shell. This coconut meat is enriched with vitamins A and E,
polyphenols, and phytosterols that work together to help reduce the level of
LDL cholesterol in humans. There are many ways to consume coconut meat. You can
eat it raw, toasted, or cooked, combine it with smoothies, use it in the
production of ice cream, or combine it with other fresh fruits.
· Coconut flour
This is another enticing reason why you should invest in coconut
plantation today, rather than tomorrow. The coconut flour can serve as a
substitute to other flours in food recipes. Just two tablespoons of coconut
flour give you 5 grams of fiber. For people with wheat allergies, gluten
sensitivity, and celiac disease, coconut flour contains no grain and gluten.
In order to make this coconut flour, you must have to separate the
coconut meat from the milk so as to produce a dry flour.
· Coconut milk
The coconut milk is a combination of coconut meat with water in
order to create a very creamy texture that is similar to cow milk. The milk is
lactose and of great health benefits.
The above mentioned great opportunities in coconut plantation make
it a very profitable agribusiness investment in Nigeria for you. You really
need to pay attention to the great money making opportunities that exist in
coconut plantation business in Nigeria.
Varieties of coconut in
Nigeria
Before you venture into coconut plantation business in Nigeria,
you are advised to look into the different varieties of coconut so that you can
make an informed choice. You should know that there are two main subgroups of
coconut palms. These subgroups are;
·
Tall and
·
Dwarf coconut palms
For commercial coconut plantation business, you should make sure
to use very high yielding variety to increase productivity.
Genetically improved
coconut varieties
The make the coconut plantation farming business in Nigeria more
enticing for you, there are genetically engineered varieties that will
guarantee you between 100-250 coconuts per tree per year. This leads to the
production of up to 17,000 coconuts per acre. With these genetically modified
coconuts in your coconut plantation, you are sure of approximately 500 million
liters of coconut water, 200 coconuts per tree, and about 60% of coconut oil
production.
You should pay the Nigeria Seed Council a visit
to know the requirements for accessing these genetically improved coconut
varieties.
With the genetically modified varieties, you are certain to have a
bountiful harvest from your coconut plantation farming business in Nigeria. For
nuts and coconut oil, the Western Tall and Tall X Dwarf are the best choices
for your coconut plantation farm in Nigeria.
How To Cultivate Your
Coconut Plantation In Nigeria
1.
Here is a laid down guideline on how to cultivate
your coconut plantation in Nigeria so that you ensure maximum productivity of
your coconut farm. Below are the requirements you need before you start your
coconut plantation business in Nigeria.
1.Coconut
Plantation Business Plan
Before starting your coconut plantation, it is highly recommended
that you have a well-detailed
business plan. With your business plan, you can fully understand all that there
is in coconut plantation business in Nigeria. Through the market survey you
carried out in your business plan, you will greatly understand the coconut
market in Nigeria and how to succeed in it.
Aside from helping you understand the coconut market in Nigeria
and other vital things that you really need to know about coconut plantation,
your business plan comes in handy in many ways. With your coconut plantation
business plan, you can attract investors to your coconut farm in Nigeria. It
also gives you an edge while applying for loans from the government or other
private financial institutions in Nigeria.
2. Farmland Selection And Preparation
2. Farmland Selection And Preparation
Now that you have your coconut plantation business plan and your
startup capital, the next requirement for you is farmland selection and
preparation. You should make sure that the farmland you have selected is
properly cleared. The compacted soil must be plowed and all stumps in your farm
removed to ensure adequate drainage.
It is recommended that you fence your farmland borders, with good
access roads, irrigation systems, and other important infrastructure that
ensures maximum growth and development of your coconut plantation.
3.The Soil Requirement
Experts say that the ideal soil conditions that guarantee improved
growth and performance of your coconut palms are well-drained soil that is
between 50-100cm in depth and good water holding capacity. You can also grow
your coconut under different soil types like the lateritic, coastal sandy,
alluvial, loamy, etc
4.Coconut Planting Season
4.Coconut Planting Season
You should know that coconut palm is largely dependent on the
availability of water, so your planting should be carried out at the onset of
the rainy season. You are advised to use seedlings grown and nurtured in a
nursery for your coconut propagation. Your coconut seedlings should be between
8-10 months old before you transplant them to the permanent coconut plantation
farmland.
Once you take your coconut seedlings out of the nursery, it is
highly recommended that you transplant them within 3 days in order to avoid the
death of your coconut seedlings.
5. Coconut Spacing
5. Coconut Spacing
For the spacing of your coconut in your coconut plantation, it is
recommended that you plant not more than 70 coconut palms in one acre of land
in West Africa. A spacing of 7.5 by 7.5 meters will comfortably take in 178
coconut palms in one hectare. You should consider the square system of planting
as it is the most preferred.
There are three major coconut planting space patterns that you can
select from. You are advised to have all the needed information on the
different coconut planting space patterns before you select any of them. These
planting space patterns for your coconut plantation include;
·
The square pattern
·
Triangular pattern, and
·
The Single Hedge pattern.
6. Fertilizer Application
6. Fertilizer Application
For you to ensure optimal growth and development of your coconut
seedlings, place the seedlings in the already dug holes backfilling them with
topsoil that is mixed with 30g NPK fertilizer. Ensure you handle the seedlings
carefully to avoid damaging the sprout. You are highly advised to start
irrigation once the planting is over.
As your coconut seedlings grow in your coconut plantation, make
sure you backfill soil to the surrounding soil level. According to the Coconut
Development Board, a mature coconut palm requires on the average between
600-800 liters of water once in every 4-7 days. It will interest you to know
that during the dry season, the death of transplanted coconut seedlings is on a
high, there is the shedding of young nuts, the inability of young fronds to
open, and the drying and hanging down of older fronds.
You are seriously advised to have a very good irrigation system
during this period if you wish to have a bountiful coconut plantation harvest.
7. Coconut Pests And Diseases
7. Coconut Pests And Diseases
You should know that the major pests that attack coconut palms
include; Rhinoceros beetle, the coconut eriophyid mite, red palm mite, the red
palm weevil, the leaf-eating caterpillar, the scale insect, and the coconut
mealybug. There are available pesticides in the market that you can use to
control the incidence of these pests in your coconut plantation in Nigeria.
For the diseases of coconut, they include the red ring disease,
bud rot, and the lethal yellowing.
8. Harvesting Your Coconut
8. Harvesting Your Coconut
If you made use of the genetically improved coconut seedlings, you
certainly will start harvesting from the fourth year of planting. You harvest
the mature nuts immediately you start noticing that at least one of the nuts in
the oldest bunch is drying up. Mature nuts are also easy to identify by the
brown coloration of their epicarp.
You should know that there are two major methods of harvesting
coconut. Though each has its own advantages and disadvantages, these methods
are:
·
The climbing method, and
·
The pole method
9. Coconut Demand And Supply Trends In Nigeria
9. Coconut Demand And Supply Trends In Nigeria
As stated earlier in this article, there is a high demand for
coconut in Nigeria and the world at large. Coconut is a major raw material for
industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, beverage, and cosmetics. The coconut
market in Nigeria is filled with great opportunity for the cultivation,
processing, and sales of coconut.
Coconut is used in the production of fruit drinks in Nigeria like;
Chivita, Chi-exotic, etc.
Editorial Team
