Call for research to boost coconut trees productivity
Coconut stakeholders want research carried out to improve the productivity of the crop and reduce importation of edible oils.
During the just-concluded national coconut conference in Kilifi, researchers said about Sh200 million is needed to research on the coconut tree.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) Industrial Crop Research Institute director Finyange Pole said the country has been growing the East African tall and East African dwarf varieties whose production is low and takes a lot of time to mature.
“This is a research that would take 10 to 15 years and many donor organisations want something that would yield results in a short time. This leaves the government to fund this research. If we get funds, we can come up with a variety that will have high yields and produce fruits in the shortest time possible,” he said.
Pole said the country has been importing hybrid coconut seeds from Asia.
However, he said once the seedlings are ready for planting, the cost is normally high for an ordinary farmer to afford.
“The cost of bringing hybrid coconut seedlings to the country is about Sh2,000. This makes it very hard for farmers to buy such a seedling. The trees also have a higher demand for water. Our research would centre on a tree that would do well in our area without stressing the farmer,” Pole said.
He said fruits from the hybrid coconut trees cannot be replanted.
Kilifi agriculture chief officer Teddy Yawa said no research on the improvement of the coconut tree has been conducted since the crop was introduced in the country by the Portuguese in the 16th Century.
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