Coconut (Cultivation etc.)

COCONUT (Cocos nucifera L.)

CULTIVATION

Land Preparation

The selected land should be completely cleared ensuring minimal disturbance of the topsoil layer. Compacted soils should be ploughed and stumps removed to provide adequate drainage. Land areas with rocks, clayey soils, and waterlogged areas should not be used. The field borders should be established along with fence lines, access roads, bridges, crossings, main drains, and channels, ponds or wells for irrigation and other infrastructure to ensure proper supply of moisture.

Soil Requirement

The ideal soil conditions for better growth and performance of the palm are loose well-drained soils about 50 – 100 cm deep with good water holding capacity. However, coconut can be grown under different soil types such as loamy, lateritic, coastal sandy, alluvial, clayey and reclaimed soils of marshy lowlands.

Planting Season

The coconut is a plant that is largely dependent on the presence and use of water, hence, the planting is done at the beginning of the rainy season. The propagation of coconut is mostly done using seedlings which are grown and nurtured in a Nursery. The nursery should be planned with respect to the seasonal changes. Seedlings should be 8 – 10 months of age before transplanting for better growth and development. They are planted immediately or at least 3 days after removal from the nursery to avoid mortality (Santos et al., 1996).

Spacing

For each planting hole, an area of soil 1 m in circumference is cleared of all vegetation and leveled. In planting the seedlings, the holes should be dug 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3m for well fertile soils and in marginal soils, holes 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9m are recommended. When planting, the planting holes can be dug at least 1 month before planting and filled with a mixture of topsoil, coconut husks, wood ash and well-decomposed manure which is then allowed to settle.

There are about three major planting space patterns which are;

i. Square pattern,

ii. Triangular pattern and

iii. Single Hedge pattern.

Below are some of the spacing and the yield expectancy for planting in these patterns;

i. For square plantings space, 8 m (158 seedlings/ha),

ii. For triangular plantings space, 8.5 m (158 seedlings/ha), 

iii. For rectangular plantings space 7.3 x 8.5 m (164 seedlings/ha)

Planting and Managing a Coconut Nursery

Fertilizer and Nutrition

To ensure efficient growth, the seedling is placed in the hole and backfilled with topsoil mixed with 30g NPK (12-24- 12). The seedlings are handled carefully so that the sprout is not damaged. The nut is covered with soil mix which is gently pressed into place so that the central bud and the collar of the shoot are above the soil level. The surrounding soil around the seedling is raked then the seedlings are irrigated adequately. Irrigation is recommended immediately after planting. As the plant grows, the soil is backfilled to the surrounding soil level.

Irrigation and drainage

As earlier stated, coconut is dependent largely on the presence of water, via rainfall or irrigation. It is important that rainfall be well distributed throughout the year for optimum coconut production. Irrigation is necessary to provide sufficient soil moisture during dry periods and so ensure good growth, development, and yield. An adult palm requires 600 to 800 liters of water once in 4 – 7 days (Coconut Development Board, 2013a).

During periods of drought, there is a high mortality of transplanted seedlings, shedding of young nuts, drying and hanging down of older fronds and, failure of young fronds to open. Therefore, irrigation is highly recommended to avoid these troubles.

Weeding

Weeds generally affect the growth and performance of the plant, heavy weed growth makes the collection of fallen nuts a difficult exercise during harvest. For seedling, their pits should be cleared of weeds periodically.

For newly-planted fields, an ideal practice will be to spray weedicide after lining the fields, in a circle around each peg marking the planting hole. This will ensure a weed-free environment even before planting out, thus giving the plant about 2 – 3 months to properly establish itself. Failing this, weed control should be done as soon as possible after planting to avoid weed competition (CIB, 2015b). [4]

Pest and Diseases

Some of the prevalent pests and diseases that affect the coconut plant include,

For Pest

The major pest that affects the cocoa plant includes:

1. Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros)
2. Coconut eriophyid mite (Aceria guerreronis Keifer)
3. Red palm mite (Raoiella indica Hirst)
4. Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier)
5. Leaf-eating or black-headed caterpillar (Opisina arenosella)
6. Scale insect (Aspidiotus destructor Signoret)
7. Coconut mealybug (Nipaecoccus nipae Maskell)

Note they are all causal agent to the diseases faced by the plants at respective times and seasons.

For Diseases

Some major disease that affects the cocoa plant includes:

1. Red ring disease: The most characteristic symptoms are the internal lesions. In a cross-section of the stem, they appear as an orange to brick-red coloured ring, 2-4 cm wide, and at a distance of 3-5 cm from the periphery. In longitudinal section, the reddened tissue may appear as two united bands joined in the bole forming a ‘U’-shape.

Control: The most effective strategy to lower the incidence of RRD is rapid elimination of nematode infected palms coupled with reduction of weevil populations through elimination of breeding sites

Red ring disease

Photograph by Society of Nematologists slide collection

2. Lethal yellowing: Lethal yellowing appears as a blight that kills palm trees within 3 to 6 months after the first appearance of symptoms.

Control: Chemical control of lethal yellowing is accomplished with the antibiotic oxytetracycline HCl (Terramycin), which is administered to palms as a liquid injection into the trunk. As a therapeutic measure, systemic treatment on a 4-month treatment schedule should begin as early as possible after the onset of symptoms.

Cocos nucifera premature nut drop and calyx-end necrosis caused by lethal yellowing.

Image by N. A. Harrison

3. Bud rot (Heart rot): The yellowing or stunting of fronds, sometimes followed by their collapse, which is often attributed to “Bud Rot” or “Heart Rot” is more likely due to either poor watering practices or a Manganese deficiency.

Control: Fungicides are often recommended as a preventative measure or as a treatment when palm crowns begin to look stressed. However current knowledge suggests that any response of declining palms attributed to fungicide treatment probably is the result of a general improvement in care (increased water, fertilizer) rather than to the fungicide.

Lethal yellowing of coconut palms. Symptoms begin at the lower leaves, which turn yellow (A) and later fall off while younger leaves turn yellow (B). Eventually all the leaves are killed, fall, and are followed by death of the tree bud (B and C), leaving the dead trees standing like utility poles (D). [Photographs courtesy of Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida.]

Harvest

Coconut is a Perennial crop that produces every single year from its first fruiting to points of maturity. However, it takes about six to ten years before coconut can start fruiting and producing its nuts. Coconuts take about 12 months after pollination to fully ripen to the dry nut stage. Twelve-month-old nuts can be harvested for seed.  

The mature nuts are harvested when at least one nut in the oldest bunch starts becoming dry. In Tall varieties, it takes 11 – 12 months from fruit set for a nut to mature whereas, in Dwarfs, nuts will mature in 10 – 11 months after the emergence of the inflorescence. These nuts can be easily identified when the epicarp of one or two nuts in the bunch starts turning brown. Traditionally, you know the ripe nut by the sound they make when hit with a harvesting knife, it makes a dull sound when it’s not ripe and a ringing sound when it is ripe.

Harvesting, however, is done at various points and times with respect to the use of the nut harvested. Harvest for coconut water is done at about the 9-11 month stage. For coconut oil, at the 12 – 13-month stage, the water (liquid endosperm) converts to the white meat (solid endosperm) lining the inside of the endocarp (shell). Nuts harvested at this stage are often dried to produce copra or wet-processed to extract coconut oil. In practice, the harvesting cycle varies from 45 – 60 or 90-day periods with high copra and oil recovery. Harvesting too early can affect the quality of the copra in terms of oil content. [4]

There are two common methods of harvesting coconuts; the pole and the climbing methods. Although both the pole and the climbing methods of harvesting require considerable experience and skill to be performed safely and efficiently, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Also in many cases, dry nuts are allowed to free-fall and then collected from the ground beneath the trees prior to their processing.

Handling and packing and Processing Opportunities

In Nigeria today, there are several opportunities that are available to individuals in the value addition (processing and packaging) of coconut. With value addition, coconut has much potential from itself, as it can be processed into various forms with readily available and consuming markets in Nigeria.

Coconut can be processed into various products that can be used industrially or as food. Some of these products from coconut processing include:

i. Coconut chips

ii. Coconut candies

iii. Crude coconut oil e.t.c

Industrially, coconut extracts are processing into the making of

i. Cosmetics (Body lotions and Creams)

ii.  Also, it is processing into the making of some fruit drinks in Nigeria (Chivita, Chi-exotic, etc)

Demand and Supply Trends

As a result of its value and the degree of use, Nigeria is in terms of the volume of production produced about 267,500 metric tonnes of coconuts and occupies the 18th position on the world coconut production index, according to data obtained from The World Leaders in Coconut Production as at April 2017. [2] There is a high demand for coconut in Nigeria and this demand has outstripped the country’s production capacity for several decades.  

Coconut is a cash crop that is grown in 22 of Nigeria’s 36 states and its production is limited to the south-western part of the country, with Lagos State having the largest production area. The crop serves as a raw material for numerous industries, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food, and beverage, with limitless domestic and export potential; coconut consumption, however, has continued to rise with the growing population, especially dry coconuts consumed in northern Nigeria, and this shows an ever ready and open market opportunity for the cultivation, processing, and sales of the product.

Coconut Products Market Outlook – 2026

The coconut products market size was valued at $11.5 billion in 2018, and is estimated to reach $31.1 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 13.6% from 2019 to 2026. In 2018, the coconut oil segment accounted for more than half of the total coconut products market share. Coconut is a versatile fruit with multiple health benefits. Products derived from coconut include coconut oil, coconut water, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, coir, and copra. These products find a wide range of applications in food & beverages and cosmetic & personal care industries. 

Coconut oil is widely consumed by the cosmetics industry for manufacturing products, for hair and skin care applications such as hair oils and soaps. Many manufacturers use coconut oil in packaged food products, and many consumers use it for cooking products, such as sweets, fried foods, and smoothies . Huge demand for coconut oil in the cosmetics industry and increase in its popularity in food applications are likely to drive the coconut oil market. Active and health conscious consumers have shifted their preference toward natural alternatives to caffeinated and sugar-based energy drinks. Hence, the demand for coconut water as a natural energy drink is growing rapidly due to its nutritional properties such as electrolytes and nutrients. 

Coconut Products Market Outlook – 2026

source: Allied market research

According to Coconut Products Market Analysis, the coconut products market is segmented on the basis of type, application, form, and region. By type, it is categorized into coconut water, coconut oil, coconut milk, dried coconut products, and others. By application, it is divided into food, beverage, cosmetics, and others. By form, it is bifurcated into solid and liquid. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa).

On the basis of type, the coconut oil segment accounted for the maximum share in the global market in 2018. Coconut oil based personal care products have gained higher traction in the personal care industry due to its emollient properties. Furthermore, due to its rich flavor with a mild aroma, it has become a popular choice of fat in various food products. Thus, due to some of the key characteristics possessed by coconut oil, coupled with strong demand from cosmetics and food & beverages industries, coconut oil accounted for a higher value share in the global coconut products market.

REFERENCES

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org

[2] https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-leaders-in-coconut-production.html

[3] https://nifor.gov.ng/coconut/

[4]https://ccidp.cardi.org/media/filer_public/9f/c4/9fc4f192-b242-4805-a857-51169961e296/coconut_production_technology_-_6_sept_2016.pdf

[5]https://www.idosi.org/wjas/wjas7(6)/8.pdf

[6] https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/nematode/red_ring_nematode.htm

[7] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/21/1988574/0/en/Coconut-Products-Market-Study-2019-2026-World-Market-Projected-to-Cross-31-Billion-by-2026.html

[8] https://bioone.org/journals/florida-entomologist/volume-85/issue-3/0015-4040(2002)085%5B0507%3ACORRDB%5D2.0.CO%3B2/CONTROL-OF-RED-RING-DISEASE-BY-MASS-TRAPPING-OF-RHYNCHOPHORUS/10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0507:CORRDB]2.0.CO;2.full

[9] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/21/1988574/0/en/Coconut-Products-Market-Study-2019-2026-World-Market-Projected-to-Cross-31-Billion-by-2026.html

[10] https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4989541/coconut-products-market-by-type-application-and

[11] https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/prokaryote/pdlessons/Pages/LethalYellowing.aspx

[12] https://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/diseases/bud-rot.htm

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