coconut palm, (Cocos nucifera), palm of the family Arecaceae, cultivated extensively in tropical areas for its edible fruit, the coconut. Coconut palms are found in tropical coastal areas nearly worldwide and probably originated somewhere in Indo-Malaya. ~ britannica

A coconut tree is a type of palm tree that is found in the coastline of kenya. The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a perennial tree crop that is widely cultivated in more than 86 tropical countries of the world with a total production of 54 billion nuts per year. The palm produces nuts throughout the year when climatic conditions are favorable and is one of the most important food security crops. The palm is also regarded as the tree of life owing to its wide range of over 120 products for domestic and international markets.

It was introduced to Kenya in the 16th Century by the Portuguese. Its cultivation spread rapidly and it became an industrial crop of considerable economic importance during the 20th Century.
Its production and marketing were handled by the Arab traders and white settlers on big plantations until the 19th century when small‐scale farmers started growing it. Today the coconut is mainly a small‐scale farmer’s crop. Over 80% of coastal farm households derive their livelihood either directly or indirectly from the coconut tree. ~ kalro

In Kenya, the majority of the coconut trees are found in the Coastal Counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu. Taita Taveta, Coastal Highland County also has a small population of coconut trees; with the area under production continually increasing on a yearly basis. Other areas with potential for coconut production include Busia and Homa Bay in the Lake Victoria region and Tharaka Nithi in the Eastern region.

The Coconut value chain is underscored as a key contributor in addressing poverty and food insecurity.  Various government agencies have been striving to improve existing farming practices.

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) with funding from DANIDA has been supporting the value chain for 15 years. In partnership with government agencies, they carried out various surveys which prompted the journey of sourcing the hybrid coconuts in 2012. 

MESPT with support from DANIDA commissioned the arrival of six thousand hybrid coconut seed nuts from India in 2017.  The seed nuts were planted the same year at the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Matuga, Kwale County. Propagation into seedlings was done in partnership with Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) under closed quarantine in line with Government regulations. ~ standardmedia

For more information about the hybrid coconut seed or how to get them kindly contact KEPHIS Mombasa’s regional office; 0722 209501