By Ikenna Nwokedi
The President, National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN), Dr. (Mrs) Nma Okechukwu Okoroji has called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to invest in coconut farming which is a promising and viable source of income generation.
Dr. Okoroji made the charge on Thursday, 27th April 2023 during the National Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) Conference, AGM and technical workshop held at the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
Dr. Okoroji stated that NACOPPMAN as an association was instituted by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in conjunction with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promote and coordinate the activities of coconut production in Nigeria and beyond.
The scholar who is a proud owner of coconut farms described coconut agriculture as one which is sustainable and 100 percent organic. She also disclosed that every part of the coconut fruit is of high economic, health and agricultural value and a tree whose whose life span is over 80 years.
Okoroji said: “Coconut farming is one viable area in agriculture that I encourage stakeholders in the agricultural sector to invest in as we are talking about a plant with high economic, health and agriculture value.
“When you talk about promotion of agriculture that is sustainable and 100 percent organic then coconut agriculture is the answer both now and in the future. Coconut is equally of high medicinal value and the tree has a life span of over 80 years. I urge all and sundry to invest in coconut farming,” Okoroji stated.
Okoroji, who is a Lecturer in the Department of Cooperative Economics and Management at UNIZIK commended Anambra State Government under H.E Prof. Charles Soludo for promotion of agriculture and championing the coconut subsector by giving out over 150 thousand coconut seedlings last year to different ministries, schools and farmers as coconut plantation is investing in the future. She commended the Akwa Ibom State Government and that of Lagos State for their investment and promotion of coconut agriculture.
“I want to commend some state governments who have really keyed into activities towards enhancing and promotion of coconut farming. Last year, the Government of Anambra State under the leadership of His Excellency, Prof. Charles Soludo gave out over 150 thousand seedlings of coconut to ministeries and schools for promotion of coconut farming and to encourage afforestation.
“Akwa Ibom and Lagos states need mentioning also, it is in Akwa Ibom State that we have the first coconut refinery in Africa all made possible by the Government in that state and Lagos is also doing so well with over 70 thousand hectars of coconut plantation making Lagos a hub for coconut for years to come, this is highly commendable and I want to thank the different state governments for their investment in this subsector,” said.
Okoroji informed that about 70 percent of coconut used in Nigeria is being imported from African countries such as Togo, Ghana and Benin Republic. She posited that Nigeria has the potentials and advantage of promoting coconut plantation with favourable conditions such as fair weather, arable lands and good rainfall.
While reacting on the NOAN Conference, Okoroji harped on the significance of organic agriculture, Okoroji insisted that the food we eat must be organically prepared as organic is life and every agricultural activities should be centered in using organic method of farming in order to protect the ecosystem, health and promote food sufficiency.
