Kenya Coconut Production Presentation presented at the National Coconut Week 2024

1. “Prosperity through Coconut production”
Way forward for Kenya
Dr. Lalith Perera
Principal Scientist/Coconut Breeder
Coconut Conference
& Exhibition
17-18 April 2024
National Coconut Week
Kenya

2. Distribution of Global coconut production

3. Country
Estimated
households
Coconut
Area(Ha.)
Productivity
(Nuts/Ha)
Estimatedno.
oftrees
(120/ha
)
Estimatedsenile
palms(50%)
Fed.Stat.Micronesia 18,000 18,000 2,197 2,160,000 1,080,000
Fiji 120,000 62,000 2,387 7,440,000 3,720,000
India 12,000,000 2,141,000 10,119 256,920,000 128,460,000
Indonesia 5,900,000 3,610,000 4,530 433,200,000 216,600,000
Kiribati 20,000 20,000 2,730 2,400,000 1,200,000
Malaysia 200,000 88,000 7,464 10,560,000 5,280,000
MarshallIslands 15,000 8,000 4,375 960,000 480,000
PapuaNewGuinea 300,000 221,000 6,710 26,520,000 13,260,000
Philippines 3,500,000 3,502,000 4,196 420,240,000 210,120,000
Samoa 40,000 99,000 2,697 11,880,000 5,940,000
SolomonIslands 50,000 38,000 2,631 4,560,000 2,280,000
SriLanka 50,000 440,000 6,623 52,800,000 26,400,000
Thailand 290,000 206,000 4,859 24,720,000 12,360,000
Tonga 25,000 31,000 2,423 3,720,000 1,860,000
Vanuatu 50,000 92,000 4,512 11,040,000 5,520,000
Vietnam 60,000 159,000 7,834 19,080,000 9,540,000
Jamaica 10,000 16,000 6,156 1,920,000 960,000
Kenya 90,000 177,000 1,462 21,240,000 10,620,000
22,738,000 10,928,000 Av.4,661 1,311,360,000 655,680,000
3
Kenya’s position in the global coconut
production

4. Issues in Kenya coconut sector
• Approx. 90% of coconut farms are small holdings (< 1 Ha) and belongs to
Resource poor farmers
• Prolonged drought conditions
• Coconut palms poorly managed
• > 70% palms senile
• Low planting density
• Very little replanting initiatives
• Coconut cultivation limited to costal areas 4

5. • Poor quality planting materials
• Poor awareness and training
• High incidences of Rhinoceros Beetle
• Lack of motivation (low nut price, high input
price, poor marketing opportunities, inadequate
government incentives etc.)
Issues in Kenya coconut sector
To boost the coconut production, Kenya primarily should focus on;
Increase yield from existing palms, replanting and planting in new areas

6. Climate
Conditions
Coconut
Yield
Soil Quality
Agronomy
Genetic
Make Up
Chemical
Properties
Biological
Properties
Physical
Properties
Integrated
Approaches
Moisture
Conservation
and Irrigation
Stand
Management
Diseases and
Pests
Tolerance/Resist
ance
Drought
Tolerant
Varieties
High Yielding
Varieties
Temperature
Light
Rainfall
Factors determining the Production &
productivity of crops

7. Genetic Improvement of Coconut
Palm
1. Selection of local tall for high yield
• Kenya tall already naturally selected for Drought
& heat stress – Valuable Resource of Germplasm
2. Hybrid coconuts
• Dwarf x Local Kenya Tall

8. Selection should be based on;
Heritability Studies
Character Heritability
(h2)
Husked nut weight 0.95
Setting of female flowers 0.81
Yield of copra (palm/year) 0.67
Number of female flowers per
bunch
0.52
Number of nuts per bunch 0.50
Number of nuts per palm/year 0.48

9. A short term Breeding approach for Kenya Tall
• Select palms for Yield, Weight of husked nut and good agronomic
characters
• Select the best 25% palms
• Collect open-pollinated nuts
• Select only the best 50% seedlings at the nursery; (usually 30%)
• Distribute among farmers as “Improved Kenya Tall”

10. Why Seedling Selection is important
Ear Germination speed positively correlate with early flowering
Early flowering positively correlate with nut and copra yield
Pre-nursery selection at five months
Sling
Vigour of seedlings positively correlate with adult palm nut yield
Vigour Girth at collar
Healthy green leaves
Short petioles
Seedling selection at seven months
Germination speed

11. A long-term breeding approach for Kenya Tall
• Record yield data from the previously selected 25% palms for a period of 3 to 5 years
• Select the best 20% palms based on yield data
• Carry out “Paired Crosses” or “Mixed Pollen crosses” between selected palms
• Select the best 70% of seedlings in the nursery
• Plant in an “Isolated Seed Garden”
• Issue seedlings to growers “Kenya tall special”

12. Production & testing of local hybrids – Long
term
• Collection of local Dwarf/Import Dwarf
varieties
• Make hybridization between selected Kenya
Tall and dwarfs
• Long term evaluation in Multilocational
• Release best hybrids from seed gardens
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Nuts/Palm
Variation in nut yield of different
cuitvars from 1994-2005
DGxT
DYxT
TT
MT
PPT

13. Isolated Seed Garden Concept
Directed natural pollination
Tall palms cross between to allow
tall x tall to occur naturally
Forest barrier
Tall palms
Pollen
from
outside
by wind
and
insects
are
trapped
in the
palms in
the
barrier

14. Other short term approach for Kenya –
Import and supply hybrids from other
countries
• Hugh risk of introduction of pest/diseases
• Adaptability issues – Farmer acceptance issues – Mawa (PB 121) failed in
Indonesia
• Should be done under strict quarantine conditions- from disease free
countries + molecular diagnostics
• Should be evaluated long term in the field ideally before releasing to farmers-
but practically along with distribution of seedlings

15. Improved production through Good
Agriculture Practices (GAP)
Spacing and plant density
Proper planting techniques
Fertilizer application
Soil conservation
Soil moisture conservation
Rain water harvesting
Weed management
Cover crops
Organic farming
Irrigation
Intercropping
Animal husbandry
Fuel wood farming
Pest/ disease management
Harvesting
Marketing

16. Planting good
quality
Seedlings

17. Proper
planting
and care
of
seedlings

18. Moisture conservation - Mulching
200-250 fresh husks are placed up to 2m radius
starting from 1ft away from the bole
Coconut fronds are chopped into two
to three pieces and cover the
manure circle

19. Moisture conservation – Burial of husks in pits

20. Moisture conservation – Cover Crops

21. Rain water
harvesting

22. Supply of water during rain-free periods
Agriculture wells?
Deep tube well-Boreholes??

23. Moisture Conservation & nutrient
Management – Biochar Application

24. Management of Pest & disease - IPM in Black Beetle
• Destruction of breeding grounds
• Extraction of beetle using an iron rod
• Application of used engine oil / coal
tar
• Use of naphthalene balls

25. Pheromone traps for Black Beetle
Regional wise trapping
is very effective

26. Low cost Nutrient supply
Using Available Organic
sources
From coconut farms

27. Organic Manures
Animal & Plant
Live Non Live
i.e.: i. Green manure
(Gliricidia, Wild
Sunflower)
i.e.: i. Animal dung
(Cattle, Goat, Poultry)

28. Green manure from NFTs
Gliricidia Planting

29. Livestock
integration in
coconut farms

30. Organic Manure Application

31. 125 mm/month
27 oC +/- 5 o >60 % RH
120 h/month
1.5m to 2m soil depth
well drained soil
6 to 7.5 pH
600 m MSL
Optimum conditions for coconut
Expansion of coconut cultivation to other areas

32. Area expansion
Soil suitability maps
and
expansion of coconut
cultivation to outside coastal
area

33. 3
3
 Geneticallyimprovedplantingmaterials
 Highqualityseedlings–Nurserymanagement& selection
 Replacementofsenilepalms
 Fillingvacanciestomatchwithoptimumdensity
 Lowcostinputmanagement
 Good AgriculturePractices
 Surveyingofnewareasforplantingcoconut
 Technology&capacitybuilding
 Governmentpolicysupport
Summary
KeystrategiestoincreasethecoconutproductionandproductivityinKenya

34. Recommendations
• Promote R & D in coconut
• Establish and provide strong Extension Mechanism
• Collect and conserve coconut germplasm - gene banks
• Implement long term variety development and seed production program (short Term & long term)
• Implement IPM for Black Beetle
• Implement scientific nursery management/promote polybag seedlings
• Replant at least 50% of senile palms with in 5 years
• Establish on farm demonstration sites with all good practices to motivate farmers
• Provide subsidies to farmers – seedlings, fertilizer, for GAP practices etc.
• Survey lands in none-traditional areas and expand coconut cultivation