Last month Nigeria launched a coconut planting initiative in Badagry as part of a drive to promote the fruit as a cash crop. It’s part of a wider plan led by the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (Nacoppman) to help the country become self-sufficient.
Why is lascoda struggling to produce coconuts?
Lascoda general manager Dapo Olakulehin says the state is the biggest producer of coconuts in the country, but production is struggling to keep up with manufacturers’ needs because there has been a surge in processing over the past 10 to 15 years.
What is coconut sufficiency in Nigeria (Cosin)?
Ms Okoroji is working on a government-supported initiative, known as Coconut Sufficiency in Nigeria (Cosin), which aims to plant 10,000 hectares of coconut trees in most of Nigeria’s 36 states by 2027 in order to boost the domestic supply.
How many coconuts did Nigeria import last year?
Last year, Nigeria imported more than 500,000 tonnes of coconuts to process into products such as oils, food and beverages, official figures show. I visited a farm a mere two-hour drive from the capital Abuja to see how a couple – Ray Davies and her husband, retired army Major General John Davies – branched out into coconut farming.
Will Nigeria become self-sufficient in coconuts?
Most of Nigeria has the perfect climate for growing coconuts and yet it imports 70% of the popular fruit, which is widely used as a snack, a drink and to make everything from oil to cosmetics. With demand for coconuts increasing both domestically and around the world, plans are now afoot to make Nigeria self-sufficient in coconuts.
How much does coconut oil cost in 2021?
Demand for products remains stable even during difficult economic periods. This meant that when global supply was low in 2021, the average price of coconut oil soared by 62%, reaching $1,636 (£1,370) per tonne. Last month Nigeria launched a coconut planting initiative in Badagry as part of a drive to promote the fruit as a cash crop.