Nigeria
Country information
GenebankNigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research
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ContactDr U Omoti, |
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Nigerian Tall (NIT)
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The Federal Republic of Nigeria is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south.
Although the coconut palm is not indigenous to Nigeria, 15,000 ha of land are estimated to be under coconut cultivation in the country, mostly in the coastal areas of Lagos State and the delta areas of Rivers State (Akpan 1994). Another estimated 1.2 million hectares have been identified as suitable for coconut cultivation. The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) is mandated to carry out national research on coconut. NIFOR has identified the spread of Awka wilt lethal yellowing-like disease as the major threat in the development of the coconut industry in Nigeria. The incidence of the disease is estimated at 8-10% in the inland areas and about 5% in the coastal areas of Lagos state. To this end research has been carried out on the following:
- The control of Awka wilt disease through the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant hybrid varieties.
- Studies on the aetiology of the Awka wilt disease and the development of efficient screening techniques.
- Studies of the fertility management on the coastal and inland soils.
- Development of sustainable coconut-based intercropping systems.
- Development of efficient postharvest technologies.
Despite limited research funding, the NIFOR’s coconut research programme has recorded major achievements (Okwuagwu 2005). However, future progress will depend to a great extent on the Institute’s present effort to combat the spread of the Awka wilt lethal yellowing-like disease.
More info: 
Conserved coconut germplasm from Nigeria (2.3MB)