NIFOR, CRI-CATAS brainstorm on improving coconut value chain with technology

Stakeholders in the agribusiness sector comprising the Coconut Research Institute – Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science (CRI-CATAS) and Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), have promised to enhance the Nigerian Coconut value chain with technologies for higher Coconut yield.

The collaboration is aimed at boosting joint research activities in the areas of oil palm and coconut biology and exchange academic personnel and materials.

Speaking during an engagement meeting convened by the Coconut Research Institute – Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science (CRI-CATAS) at NIFOR in Benin, the Acting Executive Director, NIFOR, Dr. Isona Gold noted that the core objectives of the collaboration are to undertake joint research activities in the areas of oil palm and coconut biology and exchange academic personnel and materials.

According to Isona, NIFOR is a warehouse of all the available oil palm genetic materials globally.

Isona added that the threat of climate change to future fats and oils supply chain has become worrisome in recent times, noting that no one needs further explanation of the implications for food production, sustainability, and security.

“Drought and its negative effects on food production is the major fears of the scientific community globally and hence the concerted efforts at improving germplasms in different countries to mitigate this threat.

“NIFOR is strategically positioned to provide the germplasm materials for developing drought resilient planting materials with capacity for 150 -250kg fresh fruit bunches per palm per year in an environment of 1000m-1500mm of total rainfall distributed within six months of the year.

“It is expected that the collaboration in the nearest future will enhance the Nigerian Coconut value chain with technologies for higher Coconut yield per hectare per year.

“We are aware the coconut value chain is very well developed in China, and we hope that Nigeria can frog-leap in the value chain as a result of this collaboration.”

In her remark, the leader of the delegation of scientists from CRI-CATAS, Dr Cao Hongxing, commended NIFOR for the grand achievements in the Oil Palm and coconut research and development, while expressing optimism to mutually beneficial collaboration that would see both institutes bridging the existing gaps in the realisation of their research and development objectives.