Coconut Production in Nigeria: Potentials and Opportunities
Coconut is one of the most important palms in the agrarian economy of the world providing food, drink, shelter, and raw materials for industries. The Coconut palm is regarded as one of the most economically important palms in the world because it is used both as an ornamental and as a food crop.
The coconut palm including its seed or its fruit is of economic importance. More than 90% of Nigeria’s coconut belt is a continuation of the plantations or grooves along the West African Coast running from Cote d’Ivoire and southeast towards Ghana, Togo, and Benin to Lagos State in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the agricultural industry has the potential to contribute greatly to the country’s economic and industrial development. The wide range of industrial applications of most agro-produce like the coconut would greatly benefit the country’s economy.
Although the coconut palm (botanically called cocos Nucifera) is not indigenous to Nigeria, it grows well in areas with a mean annual temperature of 25–28 degrees Celsius and an annual rainfall of 200mm.
The country is blessed with coconut trees which could be harnessed for industrial development which in turn can create employment and create a better standard of living for many. Coconut is very valuable because each of its components is relevant and can be processed for use or used on its own.
Potentials in the Coconut Industry
The estimated total world production for coconuts as of 2017 stood at 60,773,435 metric tonnes. Nigeria grows coconut on over 10,000 hectares of land in the country with the potential to generate $1 billion dollars per year in coconut exports in the country. But even with such a great prospect, coconut farming is grossly untapped in the country.
Currently, Nigeria generates more than $2.5 million return on investment in coconut farming but are still way behind their production abilities.
Components of the Coconut Palm
The coconut plant is generally classified into two types: the tall and dwarf categories. On very fertile land, a tall coconut palm tree can yield up to 75 fruits per year, but more often yields less than 30 fruits largely due to poor cultural practices.
Coconut Fruit
The coconut fruit is botanically known as a drupe meaning it is not a true nut. The fruit, like other fruits, comprises three layers; exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp. The mesocarp of the coconut fruit which is the second layer is commercially exposed as the outer layer because its the main outer layer, the exocarp is usually removed before being sold.
The mesocarp (shell) of the coconut is composed of fibers called coir which have many traditional and commercial uses.
Economic Importance of the Parts of Coconut
- Nutmeat:
This white rich food is lined on the inside of the coconut seed. It is very nutritious (one nut contains as much as ¼ lb of protein) and high in calories. In the US, Over 72 million pounds of the nutmeat of the coconut is used each year in candies and confectioneries.
2. Coconut Oil:
The coconut oil also known as copra oil is extracted from the dried nutmeat of mature seeds. The oil is white, glycerin rich, Semi-solid and lard-like fat. It is stable in air and remains bland and edible for several years. It is used in soaps, candy, chocolate, ice cream, baking, candles, dyeing cotton, ointments and hair dressings, toothpaste, paints, insecticides, plastics, lubricants, hydraulic fluids and so much more. The fat in coconut oil is known to be unique from all other fats and possesses much health-giving properties. Coconut oil has been described as the “healthiest oil on earth” because it contains healthy fatty acids that are good for the body and properties that make it good for the hair and skin.
3. Coconut Water
The water of the coconut is the watery fluid that is contained within immature nuts. A 5-month-old nut produces about two glassfuls of coconut water. It is clear, colorless, and contains about two tablespoons of sugar along with vitamins and minerals. Coconut water can be used in emergencies in place of glucose for IV solutions because of its high level of purity and sterility.
Coconut water has been marketed as a sports drink because it is a refreshing drink full of electrolytes and free of fat and cholesterol although it is unsuitable for athletes undergoing more intensive training due to its relatively low carbohydrate and sodium content.
4. Coconut Milk
This white liquid is squeezed from the nutmeat of the coconut seed. It is rich in oils and various nutrients and is used for sauces and prepared foods.
5. Fruit Husk
The fruit husk is composed of tightly packed fibers known as the coir. When soaked in saltwater, they separate and can be woven into a variety of items including rope, mats, twine, rugs, chairs, and cushion stuffing.
6. Seed Shell
The shells of the coconut can be fashioned into cups, ladles, pots, eating utensils buttons, and rings. The shells are also used extensively as a fuel in the tropics as they burn essentially without smoke. The coconut shell is also useful in the production of charcoal.
6. Leaves
Coconut leaves can be used for roofs and fences in the tropics. Thin leaf strips are used in weaving clothing and furnishings while the stiff midribs are used as cooking skewers, kindles, and arrows. When bound together, the leaves can be fashioned into brooms and brushes; it can be used for thatched roofs used in covering homes, making baskets, masks etc.
Conclusion
Coconut is one of the most important sources of vegetable oil in the rural areas of the rain forest zones of West Africa and in the world generally. The coconut has several nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance thus many countries rely on the coconut palm for their livelihood and increase the GDP of their economy.
The coconut industry has the potential to provide food, raw materials, income, and employment for Nigerians if it is properly harnessed. Efforts should be made by the government to provide: first, a healthy market condition for the coconut palm and then to inform prospective farmers about the coconut value chain as several parts of the coconut palm can be utilized both locally and internationally. If this is done right, there will be an increase in farmers’ income and in the GDP of the Nigerian economy.