Kenya’s coconut farmers accuse State of neglect

KILIFI: The coconut tree has been branded a wonder plant due to its many products that could turn farmers into millionaires. But for many of them, what remains of the once vibrant sector is nostalgia.

The tree is known to have more than 100 uses making the coastal people refer to it as the tree of life due to its economic potential.

Sector experts have over the years complained of State negligence when it comes to the crop, which they term as a sleeping giant.

The palm wine also known as mnazi is a popular traditional alcoholic drink among the Mijikenda while the coconut shells are used for making ornaments including earrings and bungles.

"From leaves to the roots, nothing is wasted. It is a tree of life for us," said farmer Vincent Mwachiro of Chonyi, Kilifi County.

But the farmer with 2,000 coconut trees said farmers have been struggling with aging and unproductive plants over the years and were getting meagre returns.

According to Mr Mwachiro, a rapid population growth, poor yields and farm prices for the crop has put a strain on the production.

"Most farmers have old trees from traditional seedlings, which yield few nuts. Most of us rely on farm gate prices, which are low and as a result, some farmers have neglected the crop in the bushes," said Mwachiro.

LOW FETCH

The farm gate prices per coconut range between Sh10 and Sh12 while they sell at Sh20 to Sh40 in markets like Kongowea in Mombasa depending on the sizes.

He said farmers who ferry their produce to the Taveta border in Taita Taveta fetch between Sh50 and Sh70, but it is costly to hire lorries to the Kenya-Tanzania border town.

"Agriculture has now been devolved and we want the county governments in Coast to finance the distribution of approved coconut seedlings and organise marketing so as to revive the farming in the region," he said adding, "Our county leaders should promote coconut farming like the way Meru leaders promote miraa. They should emulate the late Karisa Maitha who fought for liberalisation of palm wine."

Raymond Kahindi, the head of the Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate  said the felling of trees for timber has posed a danger to the crop, adding that they were using Kenya Forest Service legislation to address the problem.

"We lack specific legal backup to counter the thriving trade in coconut tree timber. Now that agriculture has been devolved to counties, we expect county governments to come up with measures to promote the crop," Mr Kahindi said.

It is estimated that 100,000 coconut trees are cut down for timber every year at the coast, forcing the State agency to launch a programme to distribute certified seedlings for free among 150,000 scale farmers across the counties.