An NGO, African Coconut Heritage Initiative (AGUNKEFEST) on Thursday flagged off Coconut Festival with planting of 500 seedlings to Schools and other stakeholders in Badagry.
Speaking shortly after the planting, Prince Mesi Doheto, the President, AGUNKEFEST, said the flag off ceremony of the festival was to begin Coconut Planting during raining season.
According to him, the festival is normally held on November but we decided to separate the coconut planting of this year to kickstart the festival.
“This year flag off ceremony, we brought in students from different schools in Badagry because we want to initiate them into planting.
“We are also catching them young and inculcate the idea of save environment and also given the school economic power because in some years time, the coconut will begin to bear fruits,” he said.
Doheto said that 20 Schools- 10 primaries and 10 secondary schools were selected for the programme.
“We gave each of the school 10 seedlings each to plant in their school, making 200 seedlings.
“AGUNKEFEST team will visit their schools by November to monitor how they are growing.
“We also donated another 100 seedlings to Association of Coconut Growers (ACG) being the stakeholders in the sector.
“The Initiative also planted some seedling to some area in Badagry where there are spaces for the crop to grow healthy,” he said.
The President said that the Coconut festival would come up between Nov.23 and 25, adding that many important personalities would be invited from all walk of life.
In his speech, Dr Victor Adangbe, the Director Research, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) said with regards to the yearning of the coconut stakeholders research is actively ongoing.
According to him, research is going on to produce improved yielding planting materials through disease resistance planting materials.
“We are also training farmers on effective field management practices and also on nursery management practices,” he said.
In his remarks, Prince Mustapha Ademola, the Coordinator, AGUNKEFEST, said that Coconut trees play an important role in controlling economy of a nation.
According to the coordinator, the need of the seed is constantly of demand because the fruit is a raw materials for many major industries.
He urged Nigerians to always plant the crop in their environment.
The traditional rulers in Badagry, Political office holders, executive of ACG and youths graced the ceremony.