Farmers increase coconut growth by 30% and triple output through simple management techniques

By Henry Jami Mang’eni

Farmers increase the growth rates of their coconuts by 30 per cent and get up to three times more nuts through proper management. 

According to the FAO, well-taken-care coconuts farms also get double, 1.5-2 tons of copra (coconut flesh), per per hectare every year compared to farmers with poorly managed farms. While on-field farm practices such as controlling diseases like root wilt and lethal yellowing, irrigation, and manure application can boost yields by half.

Coconuts can be planted by planting the seed directly on the seed bed or by raising seedlings through a nursery.

The mother plant where you are obtaining seed should be:

• 30 years and above in age.
• High yielding.
• Good big-size nuts.
• Display strength in its growth.
• Free from pests and diseases.
• Select the seed to be raised in the nursery as follows:
• Well mature and dry from the tree
• Have water inside in good amounts
• Free from pests and diseases
• The skin should be smooth and big-size

NURSERY SETTING

1. There is the top part of the nut that has three eyes, slice the side of it because this helps the seed coconut to absorb water for ease of germination.
2. The seed nut is then soaked for 2 – 3 days at this time it’s good the water is changed daily to prevent infection through the water.
3. Traditionally the nuts are put in a heap and covered by absorbent material like gunny bags or grass and frequently sprinkled with water to break the dormancy of the seed nuts.
4. Plough the selected area for the nursery

1ST PART NURSERY

1. Make sure the nursery area is ploughed well
2. Trenches are used to place the seed coconut so make trenches 1 foot from one trench to the next.
3. The depth of the trench is 1 foot wide and 1 foot depth
4. Seed nuts can either be placed inside the trench next to each other and the broader side lies on the floor of the trench or the side that has the three eyes can be placed up.
5. Cover the greater part of the seed nut with soil leaving a small section.
6. Cover with mulch and water frequently for germination.

2ND PART NURSERY

1. This part of the nursery is for the seedlings that are supposed to wait for transplanting a little bit longer or when seedlings are raised for commercial purposes.
2. It is an extension of the first nursery for the mentioned purpose.
3. The seedlings here can also be potted.

PLANTING

Clear the land well by Ploughing and then followed by furrowing before you commence with hole preparations.

Conservation agronomists also advice direct hole preparation and here minimum tillage is practiced.

Clearly marking the layout for planting is always advised for those that

The size of the holes is influenced by rain intensity where it is deeper in low rainfall areas 1m x 1m x 1m this assists in trapping the little rain acquired for the advantage of the plant.

A hole size of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm is also used.

Planting practices vary where some farmers do a pure stand of a spacing of 7.6 m x 7.6m, 8m x 8m, and 9m x 9m.

Coconut accommodates other crops for intercropping at a spacing of 12m x 12 m and 10m x 10m. Works well with maize, beans, cowpeas, and other crops.

CROP CARE

Use manure at planting 20 – 50 kg per plant per year, this means you can do this in splits.

Sprinkling manure at the base is also advisable.

Weeding is done especially in the early stages of growth.

Pests that are identified in coconut are Beetle, coreid bug, mealy bug weevil, mealy bugs, and scales.

Diseases include Bole rot, Lethal Yellowing, and Bud rot.

Harvest by climbing by the steps made on the tree or by tying both lower parts of the legs. Nuts are felled by cutting all are tied and lowered in bunches using a rope.

The Dwarf Hybrids are easy to harvest because they are short.

POST HARVEST

Harvested nuts are placed under a shade, dehusking is done using a pointed stick or metal and care should be taken to avoid damage.

YIELDS

The East African Tall variety gives an average of 80 – 140 nuts per tree per year, the dwarf variety produces 40 – 60 nuts per tree per year and the hybrid variety which is also dwarf gives an average of 200 – 300 nuts per tree per year.

There are aggregation points at a community level where farmers deliver their nuts and the price ranges from Sh15/- to 20/ a nut depending on the season.

VALUE ADDITION

Products from coconut trees are roofing material locally known as ‘Makuti’, Brooms, brushes, door mats, beads from the nut, coya dust for propagation among others.

From the flesh in the nut, there is the virgin oil, skin care oil, Desiccated Coconut, Coconut Milk, Coconut milk Powder, Coconut Cream, and Coconut chips.