(Malindi) – Farmers along Kenya’s coast are being encouraged to adopt hybrid coconut farming to increase yields and meet the rising demand for the crop.
Stakeholders, led by the Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), are promoting the cultivation of hybrid varieties such as the Sampoorna from India. These hybrids significantly outperform traditional African tall coconut trees in productivity.
The MESPT Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Mukhoye, noted during a visit to the pilot farm in Malindi’s Mshongoleni area that the hybrid trees could yield up to 350 nuts per tree, compared to fewer than 50 nuts produced by traditional varieties. The pilot initiative, which began in 2019, has already seen over 200 farmers in Kilifi County adopt the Sampoorna variety.
“We are collaborating with KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization), KEPHIS (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service), and private organizations to ensure these hybrids adapt well to local conditions. So far, the results are very promising,” Mukhoye stated.
MESPT, in partnership with KALRO, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), and Pwani University, is driving efforts to transform coconut farming by promoting local seedling production to reduce costs for farmers.
| Comparison of Coconut Tree Yields | Traditional Varieties (African Tall) | Hybrid Varieties (Sampoorna) |
|---|---|---|
| Nuts per Tree per Season | < 50 | Up to 350 |
Professor Najia Mohamed of Pwani University, who chairs the Coconut Technical Committee, emphasized the need for more government and private-sector support to meet the high demand for hybrid seedlings. She highlighted that partnerships could enable more farmers to access this game-changing technology.
Efforts to increase accessibility include exploring ways to reduce the cost of seedlings, which currently range between KES 2,000 and KES 2,500 ($13–$16.70) per seedling. Kilifi County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Teddy Yawa, called for subsidies to make the seedlings more affordable.
The Danish Embassy in Kenya, represented by Dennis Wasike, affirmed DANIDA’s commitment to financing the coconut value chain. He stressed that introducing high-yielding hybrids would significantly improve farmers’ livelihoods, with the expectation that governments and private entities would scale up these efforts.
Farmers like Rashid Kalu, who hosts the pilot farm in Malindi, shared their success stories. “I’ve seen a significant improvement in yields with the hybrid variety—up to 350 nuts per tree. I encourage more farmers to switch to these hybrids for better productivity,” Kalu said.
Other counties in the region, including Lamu, are also keen to adopt hybrid coconut farming. Lamu County Agriculture Executive Jams Gichu highlighted the strong local and regional demand for coconuts, urging farmers to embrace these fast-growing, high-yielding varieties.