The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) has started the regeneration and replanting of 6,000 coconut mother plants at its substation in Badagry, Lagos State.
Head, NIFOR Sub-Station Badagry, Dr. Musa Kolose, stated this on Tuesday while receiving the Technical Department team of the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), on a field trip to the sub-station.
Kolose said the replanting project would be completed between three years and four years when 60 hectares of coconut would have been planted.
At its completion, there would be an abundant hybrid, dwarf, and West African Tall (WAT) varieties of coconut available and at affordable prices, he said.
Kolose noted that the current plantation/seed gardens were established in 1978 making them the first in Nigeria with the objective of collecting and researching different coconut breeds.
He said also that NIFOR was determined to keep up with the pace at which Lagos State was promoting coconut and its value chain.
He expressed confidence that coconut farmers would begin to benefit from the re-planting exercise from 2027 through 2078.
Mr. Dapo Olakulehin, LASCODA’s General Manager led the team to the NIFOR Coconut Substations and seed garden plantations.
