The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has pledged to untap the various business opportunities in coconut farming in order to reduce the rate of unemployment in the council.
Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, AMAC, said this at the flag-off of the 2023 Coconut Planting Season, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The event was organized in collaboration with the National Coconut Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN).
Maikalangu, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Jafaru Gwagwa, said that coconut farming was one of the most profitable cash crop, which has a good return on investment.
He also called on the farmers in the area council to also delve into coconut farming as it has the potential of transforming the economy of the country.
“On our part, we are going to give more emphasis on planting of coconut having heard the importance of the coconut.
“Within the municipal, we might not have available lands for planting coconut, but we assure them that we will be providing them with land outside the city center to carry out coconut farming,” he said.
For her part, Dr Nma Okoroji, National President, NACOPPMAN, said that every part of coconut had the potential of generating income as such should be harnessed.
“The husk can be used for fibre, for orthopedic bed, the shell can be used to produce bullets and brake pads while the milk contains a lot of nutritional value.
“A litre of coconut oil is 8,000 naira and the coconut water can be used to neutralize the effects of food poisoning, dysentery, among others.
“The coconut industry is presently an untapped industry in the country and if one decide to plant coconuts today, it is expected that the gestation period would be 2027.
“It is the best retirement benefit one can give to him or herself and also to their grand and great grand children,” she said.
She also called on civil servants in the country to venture into coconut farming, as it was profitable for them to do so.
The event featured the physical planting of coconut seedlings at the council’s secretariat by the representative of the chairman, among other ministry representatives.
The theme of the event is: Actualizing Coconut Sufficiency in Nigeria (COSIN): Enhancing an all-inclusive sustainable economy- The emerging role of planting coconut trees with economic, health and export potential.
