Senate seeks Sh3.2bn to revive coconut industry

A customer buys coconuts on Gatundu Road in Mombasa on March 12, 2015. FILE PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI |

What you need to know:

  • Committee to ask government to set aside funds in 2015/2016 Budget.
  • Senators follow up on implementation of resolutions to support the industry.

The Senate plans to ask the national government to set aside Sh3.2 billion in the 2015/2016 Budget to revive the ailing coconut industry, senators who visited the coast last week said.

They were following up on implementation of Senate resolutions to support the industry, mainly in Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa.

Speaking at the Kilifi governor’s office, member of the Senate session committee on implementation said the national government should allocate more funds to the coconut industry.

Committee chairman James Orengo, who is also the Siaya senator, said the Senate would support county governments to ensure the industry is well addressed in the national budget, including setting aside more funds for research and production.

“It is our responsibility as the implementation committee to follow up on resolutions made by Senate.

This follows a motion brought by Ms Elizabeth Ongoro. The motion was passed and Senator Ongoro is drafting a Bill. Kilifi is one of the counties with many coconut trees,” said Mr Orengo.

NEGLECT

Senator Ongoro said her quest to bring the motion to Senate was because of the neglect the crop by previous administrations.

“Research on the coconut tree made in 2007 found that the coast had a total of 4.7 million trees covering 200,000 acres. The benefits from coconut products were pegged at Sh3.2 billion,” she said.

Ms Ongoro added that despite its usefulness, the tree does not even enjoy the benefits of agricultural extension officers.

“The tree is a sleeping economic giant that, once awakened, will improve the region’s economy,” she said.

Variously, the coconut has been termed “the tree of 40 uses”, owing to its many benefits.

Governor Kingi said history had not favoured the tree because both before and after independence, the coconut was belittled as good only for producing local brew and coconut, without any other benefits.

He added that the county was consulting how best to revive coconut and cashew nut farming. “We have set aside Sh25 million towards this, mainly for seedling purchase, research and sensitisation of farmers,” he said.