Developing Coconut Agribusiness through Innovation for Improved Livelihoods

The 3rd International Coconut Conference 2013 in Kenya will take place at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa, from 17th – 20th September 2013.

The 2013 Conference will be a unique platform on which to do business, exchange practices, and learn from experts from Africa and the Asian & Pacific Coconut Countries. It will offer opportunities for Coconut farmers, processors, traders, exporters, services providers, equipment manufacturers, bankers, and governments to convene to shape Kenyan coconut sub-sector.

Coconut is the preferred crop for smallholder farmers alongside cashew nuts and mango at the Kenyan Coast. The crop is preferred because it is utilized both as a cash crop and for subsistence. From the baseline study and value chain analysis reports by the Agricultural Business Development (May 2007 – June 2009 and April 2010 respectively), the following production and marketing scenario was apparent:

A total of 82,000 farmers are involved in production

Production for main products stands as follows: Mature nuts 200 million; Wine 160 million litres; ‘Makuti’ 90 million pieces; Brooms 10 million pieces; immature nuts 18 million pieces.

The yield per tree is on average 20 – 30 nuts per year

Average farmer holding stands at approximately 100 trees.

Key market players included among others; oil processors, wine vendors, makuti and broom traders.

Emerging new areas such as virgin oil, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, and fibre were gaining prominence.

COAST DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REPUBLIC OF KENYAMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,

LIVESTOCK & FISHERIES

The coconut stakeholders are all in agreement that there is a need to strengthen the SMEs (especially toddy processors, selected nuts products and coconut wastes’ processors) to make the sub-sector competitive in the global market. Hence the need to identify and build the capacity of SMEs processing coconut products in the region is of paramount importance.

It is in light of the above that the Kenya Coconut Development Authority (KCDA) and Micro Enterprises Support Program Trust (MESPT) working with other like-minded institutions have organized a four–day conference dubbed the 3rd International Coconut Conference 2013 in Kenya.

The main objective (Theme) of the conference dubbed, ‘Developing Coconut Agribusiness through Innovation for Improved Livelihoods ’ will be creating awareness on the opportunities and business potential in the coconut industry, the value of the coconut tree, its products and by-products; and the possible linkages with international markets, producers, and service providers among others. It will draw its key speakers from the Asian & Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) who will include the Executive Director of APCC and other Technical Specialists/Coconut Experts from the South East Asian Countries.

The conference targets private and public organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) dealing in the coconut and coconut based products, financial service providers, Research institutions, policy makers, planners, producers, food nutritionists, medical practitioners, machine fabricators, value chain consultants and individuals among others whose vision for enterprise development involves addressing the needs of the coconut value chain.

82,000

Farmers involved in Coconut production, with each having approximately 100 trees.

200 million mature nuts; 18 million pieces of immature nuts; 160 million litres of wine; 90 million pieces of ‘makuti’; and 10 million pieces of brooms.

The yield per tree is 20 – 30 nuts per year on average.

Statistics derived from the baseline study and value chain analysis reports by the Agricultural Business Development (May 2007 – June 2009 and April 2010 respectively).

REGISTER NOW!

To register, contact Mercy Maina on 0726 698369 mercy.maina@kcda.go.keFor further information on the conference visit www.kcda.go.ke or www.mespt.org

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