The recent observance of the World Coconut Day brought to light the profound significance of coconuts to Nigeria’s economy and the enhancement of human well-being. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, underscored the pivotal role of the coconut industry in the global economy, emphasising its cultural importance and its potential to address pressing concerns. He also announced the Federal Government’s ambitious plan to boost coconut production to 500,000 metric tons by 2025. CHINAKA OKORO reports
The coconut (Cocos nucifera) has played a pivotal role in human civilisation for countless years, serving as a versa tile resource that meets various essential needs. From providing sustenance in the form of food and drink to contributing materials for clothing, shelter, and various industries, coconuts have been an indispensable part of human life. Not only do they fulfil practical needs, but they also generate income through the sale of their diverse products.
Experts highlight the crucial role of coconuts and their value chain in addressing global challenges stemming from environmental changes. This natural resource has significantly assisted humanity in both work and day-to-day living, earning recognition as a symbol of health according to health professionals. The global acknowledgement of the coconut’s importance is evident in the establishment of World Coconut Day, a celebration initiated by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC). This intergovernmental organization, established in 1969 with headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, aims to support the growth, production, sale, and export of coconuts in Asian countries.
World Coconut Day, observed annually in September, reflects the international recognition of the coconut’s significance. The initiative, launched by the APCC in 2009, underscores the global impact of this remarkable fruit and its contributions to sustainable living and economic prosperity. The World Coconut Day is significant because it plays a vital role in enhancing socio-economic security, health and ecological balance in global communities. The coconut tree is revered as the “tree of life,” offering sustenance, livelihoods and cultural identity to millions of people worldwide. Medical experts hold the view that “every part of the coconut tree is useful. Its fruit is well-known for being highly nutritious and beneficial to all human forms. The fruit is proven to be rich in fibre and packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Moreover, it has also been claimed as a potent cure for nausea, rash, fever, earache, sore throat, bronchitis, kidney stones, ulcers, asthma, syphilis, dropsy, toothache, bruises, and lice.”
The day aims at “highlighting the importance of the coconut industry to the global economy, its cultural significance, and its potential in alleviating some pressing concerns of the times.” The term “coconut” can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed or the fruit. This year’s theme for World Coconut Day is “Sustaining Coconut Sector for the Present and Future Generation,” and it creates awareness among people about the countless benefits of coconuts across the globe. The day is dedicated to promoting sustainable coconut farming and its significant benefits. Coconut is the mainstay of Indonesia’s economy as it is the world’s leading coconut producer, followed by the Philippines and India respectively.
Nigeria produces coconut but not on a very large scale. It is on the 18th position on the world coconut production country index currently, and can only boast of 265,000 metric tons of coconut production. This is a very far cry from such a country that seats a total area of 923,768 km land mass, making it the world’s 32nd-largest country. To this end, the Federal Government has vowed to change the situation. In the circumstances, therefore, during this year’s celebration, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari said the Federal Government is working towards increasing Nigeria’s current production level to about 500,000mt by 2025.
The minister stated this during the 2023 10th International Coconut Festival AGUNFEST in Badagry, Lagos. The theme of the festival was “A Decade of Coconut Culture to Ignite Century Action Plan for Coconut Prosperity in Nigeria.” According to Kyari, currently, Nigeria is ranked 19th in the world among coconut-producing countries, and there is a need to increase Nigeria’s current production level from 265mt to about 500,000mt by 2025. “1,000 Coconut seedlings have been approved for the festival. AGUNFEST 2023 is not just a celebration of coconut, but a call to action. It is a call to farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers to come together and work towards developing the coconut sub-sector.
It is a call to create wealth, not just for ourselves, but also for our communities and our country. I urge you to work together in promoting the growth and sustainability of the coconut industry in Nigeria. If the full potential of the sector is properly harnessed, it is capable of making a great economic impact on the country,” he said. The Minister, who was represented by the Lagos State Coordinator of the ministry, Mrs Abimbola Oguntuyi said agriculture should be treated with all seriousness it deserves as a business with enormous potential. Kyari said such potential includes jobs for our teeming youths, revenue generation, diversification of our economy, reducing over-dependence on oil, earning and conserving foreign exchange and expanding revenue sources.
Also, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John said the festival would not only promote tourism but also celebrate our culture and traditions besides boosting the national economy. According to the minister, the country will be able to generate more than N20 billion in foreign exchange equivalent through coconut and its derivatives export. Ade-John, who was represented at the festival by the Chief Tourism Officer, Mr Tony Okonju said the coconut industry had the potential to provide food, raw materials, income and employment for Nigerians if it is properly harnessed. She said the festival is designed to create awareness about the economic, environmental and nutritional value of coconuts as well as encourage sustainable practices within the coconut industry.
The President of the International Coconut Festival of Canada, Mr Julian Baricuatro urged the government to encourage more people to plant coconut. Baricuatro said coconut farming could employ more youths, even as he urged the government to work on the value chain of coconut, adding that it has nutrition and health values. Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisoye Olusanya said the ministry will rehabilitate Topo Island in Badagry which is the first coconut plantation in West Africa. Olusanya, who was represented by the General Manager of Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Mr Oladapo Olakulehin said the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to create more tourist attractions in Badagry.
She said through LASCODA, the ministry would establish a coconut factory in the town. The President of the African Coconut Heritage Initiative (AFRICOCO) Prince Mesi Doheto said the festival stands as an intersection of culture and innovation. “This is exhibiting the rich cultural heritage of different coconut-producing communities and the economic significance of this wonder crop globally. It is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering unity through cultural tourism and harnessing the potential of coconut for a more sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.
Mesi thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Ministry of Agriculture, LASCODA, Federal Ministries of Tourism and Agriculture, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research and the three councils in Badagry for their support. The 2023 edition of the festival began with coconut planting across different locations and distribution of the seedlings to schools, and public places with donations to coconut growers and marketing associations. Some of the features of the festival were diverse activities such as school arts and crafts, painting, poetry competitions, national coconut awards, fashion show and Miss AGUNFEST competitions.
The festival also featured a symposium and business forum, community float parade, cooking demonstration, exhibition, musical entertainment and cultural performance. Also, the President of the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN), Mrs. Nma Okechukwu-Okoroji, has said the coconut sub-sector could contribute over $400 billion annually to the economy. She stated this ahead of the 2023 World Coconut Day celebration.
“Coconut, according to her, is a very important cash crop that can make Nigeria generate 400 billion USD annually. How much is the cost of crude oil as compared to that of coconut? It is times three higher and the demand for coconut products is increasing every day. About 265 tons of coconut is produced in Nigeria currently and 70 per cent of it is produced by Lagos State and 30 per cent is produced by the other states. We don’t have enough coconuts in Nigeria as 80 per cent of the coconuts that are used in this country are imported and the cost of importation is getting higher every day,” she said. She urged Nigerians to invest in coconut production. “Investing in coconut production will help the country’s economy,” she said.
According to the lecturer in the Department of Cooperative Economics and Management of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Anambra State, despite the enormous economic potential of coconuts, it had been difficult for successive governments in the country to explore their far-reaching economic importance, even as she stressed that this has hindered the possibility of ensuring that the coconut sub-sector makes a massive contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She harped on the economic potential of coconut production in Nigeria, insisting that it is another fast way to create jobs and boost the economy. She noted that coconut is a cash crop that grows in over 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states; with Lagos State having the largest production area. She emphasised that an estimated 36,000 hectares are currently under cultivation mostly in Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, adding that an estimated 1.2 million hectares of land are suitable for coconut cultivation, according to the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) 2008 reports.
Okechukwu-Okoroji added that the 2023 coconut planting season flag-off was aimed at achieving coconut sufficiency in Nigeria by 2027 through the establishment of coconut tree planting, the establishment of 10,000 square meters of coconut farms in all coconut viable states and one family of three coconut trees and one organisation 10 coconut trees initiative.
