Coconut planting and process if well handled could be the next money spinner high than proceeds from crude oil in Delta State.
These were the cheerful news disclosed today by Hon Aneke Ifemeni while celebrating the world coconut day celebration in Asaba.
Ifemeni said that billions of Naira could be got from coconut planting and processing.
Ifemeni who is the programme coordinator of Delta State Coconut Development Programme called on Deltans to key into the programme because of the economic and health benefits of coconut.
Said Ifemeni: ‘The coconut programme is very much capable of funding itself and generating more revenue for funding other government activities. From the model we have adopted, from one hectare,the government equity share is approximately N1,800, 000. That means from a plantation of one thousand hectares, government will generate one billion, eight hundred thousand Naira’.
He added that coconut revenue in the nearest future would provide alternative revenue to crude oil in the state.
Ifemeni also said that coconut value chain was enormous as there over 360 by-
products from coconut.
He said that many communities have donated 5,000 hectares to government as a form of partnership.
He listed some of the achievements of the programme as:’The Delta State Coconut Programme have successfully established forty hectares of coconut plantation across Delta State in Onicha Ukwuani (15ha), Utagba Uno(15ha), Mbiri (5ha) and Umuaja (5ha) respectively. A coconut nursery planted with 20,000 coconut seeds have been developed in Onicha Ukwuani which will be used to develop 100 hectares of coconut plantation in 2023 is also doing well.’
Speaking, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Godfrey Enitan commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the establishment of the programme, adding that his ministry was behind the world coconut day celebration because of the usefulness of coconut and its economic value chain.
The theme of the celebration is ‘Building a Safe, Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Coconut Community’.
The high light of the celebration was the exhibition of food, medicinal and fashion products from coconut.
