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Coconut Industry Development Project

Training on Coconut Production and Seeds Systems

in the Pacific Region

Meeting Summary and Recommendations

17th to 20th April 2018

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Meeting Summary

1 Stephen Hazelman, on behalf of the Director of Land Resources Division of SPC welcomed

participants to the Coconut Industry Development in the Pacific (CIDP) workshop on coconut

production and seed systems from 17-20 April 2018 at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.

2 Opening remarks by the team leader, Mr Naheed Hussein, explained that the ‘Train the Trainer’

workshop, is part of the CIDP project which is a Euro 4 million (FJD 9.3 million) joint initiative of

the SPC, the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union (EU) to

strengthen the coconut sector in the Pacific region. The workshop for 30 public and private

extension officers, coconut researchers, decision-makers and NGO representatives from PIFON

(Pacific Islands Farmer Organisation Network) and POETCom (Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade

Community) involved in coconut programmes from around the Pacific will explore nursery and

planting techniques, traditional and organic management of coconut plantations, choice of

planting materials, assessment methods for efficiency of replanting programmes, and the

sharing of information to coconut farmers.

3 The workshop facilitator Dr Roland Bourdeix from CIRAD provided an overview of the workshop,

including a field trip to LegaLega Research station on Wednesday, and a focus on organic

production methods on Thursday.

4 After some table discussions, the following inclusions to the agenda were requested by

participants:

1. Selection for planting – resilience to cyclones –tall, dwarf, hybrids 2. Wish to see specific discussion of atoll soils 3. Concerns about phyto-sanitation to manage Oryctes (CRB) 4. Movement of Oryctes with mining roads and containers and poor quarantine in PNG 5. Hybrids more damaged by CRB-G? 6. Need for more clear guidance on beetle trapping and phyto-sanitation guidelines 7. Comment from James about people going back to coconut and away from oil palms 8. Need for new plantings as people retreat from coastal areas with climate change. 9. Suggestions on integration of tourism opportunities so that visitors come to look at

coconut plantations, shell out some copra and that this represents an extra opportunity for farmers.

10. GIS mapping of the plantations – some work has been done by SPC.

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11. Economics of replanting and role of coconut by-products to help fund this. 5. Dr Bourdeix emphasised the importance of using technology and sharing knowledge. He

proposed that all members join the Google Group (discussion group) for Coconuts, and demonstrated the ease of sharing information with the website which he created (http://replantcoconut.blogspot.com/), and which contains the content of the workshop. He also demonstrated the ease of making short films by showing a short film about nursery practices for coconut worldwide. This emphasised the importance of labelling and tracing of varieties in the nursery and their distribution out to farmers.

6. Principle varieties of coconuts and the origins of some of the Pacific cultivars were discussed. There was discussion about true hybrids, which are autogamous (parents are from the same tree), and talls which are out-crossing (allogamous) i.e. where the mother plant is known but there is no control on the male parent (open pollination).

7. The workshop discussed the importance of understanding different perspectives on yield and benefit: Copra mills may express a preference for Talls over Hybrids because the oil yield per nut is greater. However, from the farmers’ point of view the issues are very different. The copra is less rich in oil per nut, but there is more oil per hectare because there are more nuts. E.g. Tall types will give about 1.2 t/ha on average, but hybrids will produce 2t/ha. Farmers need to have the knowledge and tools to be able to evaluate which system is better for them.

8. There was a discussion on the relationships between phenotype and genotype and traditional knowledge about the most suitable coconuts to select for replanting. Dr Bourdeix emphasised the importance of these selection processes and the importance of further selection and culling of seedlings in the nursery and after the first few years in the field. There is no point in keeping a poor-quality tree.

9. How do we select to improve our coconut parent palms? The mechanism of only selecting the biggest fruit is not the best one – it is important to also select on the numbers of fruit per tree, also fruits having a thin husk and a thick kernel.

10. The group requested more information on practical guidance where / how to bring it all together and give specific guidance to countries about selection processes; practical guidance.

11. Some important knowledge sharing platforms include: - The replantingcoconuts blogspot of Dr Roland, which contains all the materials for the

workshop (replantcoconut.blogspot.com)

- The COGENT website (particularly for description of varieties

http://www.cogentnetwork.org/ AND https://www.facebook.com/cogentnetwork)

- The Google Group (Plus PIRAS, PAFPNet and POETCom groups) and Pests & Pathogens App

12. Genetic improvement – ‘Mass selection using open pollination’ yield improvement is probably

no more than 5-10%.

13. The workshop looked at a series of worksheets to evaluate the parent plants and there was

discussion about the different methods of evaluation undertaken in different countries,

including the Cook Islands method.

14. After table discussion, country by country summaries of current selection processes, existence of

systematic breeding programs and database management were summarised. While most

countries no longer have central databases of their coconut estate, there is new work going on

in Kiribati and RMI to map and record this information. Vanuatu is also capturing new

distributions of coconut seedlings. PNG has two important gene conservation orchards for

coconut. Solomon Islands lost its central records, but there has been some work undertaken to

re-capture this information.

15. Issues raised for further discussion include:

Color of fruit and its significance

Planting linked to lunar phases – important traditional knowledge

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Practical guidelines

Inputs to sustain our coconuts

Options for organics

16. The group discussed that a regional breeding program would be more sustainable than many

individual national programs. The issue is analogous with the sharing and distribution of fruit

and vegetable seeds being undertaken by the Pacific Seeds 4 Life program, but the scale of the

coconut industry perhaps makes the issues different.

17. The group re-capped on Day 1 (starting with the issues above) but then also adding:

- Need for more work together on the guidelines for palm selection (including issues of color

& nut size etc.). These are included in Roland’s ‘7 sheets’ but the principles driving the

selection process are not yet clear enough.

- Mention of SPC’s Pacific Seeds for Life project, which is about systems of seed selection and

sharing, but recognizing that the scale of the coconut industry in the region makes it a

special case.

- Selection and maintenance of a sufficient supply of high quality coconut seeds for replanting

within each country is a major challenge of the replanting program. Even though it isn’t on

the scale of Brazil, we need to think about substantially scaling up the nursery production

(c.f. oil palm industry in Solomon Islands)

- The group are seeking more detail on the merits of different principle varieties e.g. the local

wisdom in the Solomon Islands is that the hybrids deplete the site more quickly. The issue

really is that any monoculture of trees will deplete the site, and so greater understanding of

systems of maintaining soil fertility and replacement of nutrients are needed. A more

commercial approach to coconuts means seeing them as not just a ‘poor man’s crop’ with

no inputs, and recognising that, as with all farming, inputs are required to produce outputs.

- Finally there was a reminder of the very likely direct impacts on tourism, if CRB-G gets

established, as can be seen in Guam; and in Hawaii where protection of palms (including the

indigenous palms) is a state priority.

18. LEGA LEGA Field trip: The group was hosted at the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture’s field station by

Dr Tekini Nakidakida and Mr Vijendra Kumar and their staff. The group did hands-on learning

with trimming coconut husks, laying nuts into nursery beds and discussed use of soil, sand and

other materials to maintain moisture in the husks. There were many variations around the

region, with many countries not routinely doing the coconut husk trimming that was

demonstrated.

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19. Dr Roland illustrated red, yellow, green and brown varieties of nuts and discussed patterns of

planting on an island that would create natural functional hybrids that would be relatively stable

due to dominance of particular varieties (Malayan Red?)

20. The group then looked at use of coconut hooks, and the counting of leaf scars to estimate tree

age, with 12 scars equating to one year of growth.

21. Back at Tanoa, Dr Roland covered a great deal of information quickly, including: the simplest

way to produce a hybrid, some particular examples of Pacific gene isolation such as Rennell

Island varieties and Polymotu; and advice on taking good photos and videos.

22. After lunch, we briefly discussed uses for old plantations including the explanation from Moana

about cocowood veneer, cocowood (importance of careful drying and stacking), but that there

are still issues with emerging markets for these products and that they can only use the lower

1/3 of the tree (due to density /vascular bundle arrangement of coconuts). Mention was also

made of options for stem injection as an approach to phytosanitation (making the trunks

unsuitable for CRB-G nesting habitat).

23. The workshop looked at ways of summarising and costing the labour requirements for site

preparation, replanting, and discussed target numbers of trees per hectare. Triangular,

rectangular, square and cluster spacings were illustrated including the new proposed G4K1

method.

24. Groups undertook work to describe the decision making process that they would use to advise

farmers. These included considerations of markets, available varieties, soil fertility, labour

requirements, intercropping options to achieve cashflow, land preparation and management of

pests & diseases.

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25. Stephen Hazelman from POETCOM gave an overview of organic certification systems in the

Pacific, and then on the activities of Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands from Wilson Kikolo, who

have approximately 1500 farmers. One of the strengths of certification is the creation of

rigorous recording systems.

26. The workshop discussed soil fertility and amendments particularly with micronutrients (the use

of cans in planting holes) and composting of husks and competition from grass, use of livestock

as part of the system and the options for intercropping.

27. Pest and disease management was discussed including finding ways to use or manage larvae of

coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), including a suggestion about using poultry, or finding

commercial uses for larvae caught in traps.

28. The importance of green manure cover crops such as Mucuna, but also Pueraria. Also the role

of some grasses Arachis pintoi and Vetiver for soil fertility and protection.

29. Presentation on biochar from Peter Kjaer with comments from Teava Iro. Biochar can act as a

habitat, a reef, for soil microbiology. It is stable i.e. it doesn’t oxidise back to atmospheric

carbon. Peter is getting useful results using only 200kg/ha if it is primed, and mixed with

seaweed and boron.

30. Vijendra Kumar (MOA Fiji) discussed intercropping and categorised the options for intercropping

into three age classes of coconut: i) Around 8 years (annuals) ii) 8-25 – only about 20%

(perennials) and iii) 25 years and older – (perennials)

31. Dr Roland presented on proposals for a competition, survey of coconut producers, use of the

Kobotoolbox and movie making.

32. On the final day the workshop focussed on developing the recommendations and in

documenting the incentive mechanisms that are being used around the Pacific Island Countries

and Territories.

33. Participants all made a final comment to the meeting, the CIDP Team leader described next

steps for the project itself and Stephen Hazelman closed the meeting on behalf of the

participants.

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Recommendations

Thirty participants from fifteen countries and territories in the Pacific region joined this meeting held from 17th to 20th April in Nadi, Fiji. They included officers from the Ministries of Agriculture, members of NGOs, researchers and staff of SPC and CIRAD, and managers of farms and private companies from the following countries and territories: Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, French Polynesia and Hawaii. All participants agreed on the 24 regional technical recommendations presented hereunder.

Planting material and seed production system

The situation in Pacific countries regarding planting material is highly variable. It ranges from situations where 1) no seedlings are provided to farmers by any institution; 2) seednuts are provided free to farmers with or without financial incentives for replanting, 3) international import of Dwarf x Tall hybrids seedlings cultivated in vitro at 10 USD per unit (Solomon), to 4) selling of special Dwarf seedlings at 100 USD per unit (Hawaii). Taking into account both the disparities and the commonalities between these situations, the group agreed on the following recommendations.

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1. National Agricultural Services should allow farmers a primary role in making their own varietal choices, and consider advising against farmers growing only a single coconut variety (Tall, Dwarf, Hybrid, or other). At the national level, agricultural services and other stakeholders should provide farmers with a range of at least six different coconut varieties, including Tall, Dwarf, Compact Dwarf, Hybrid, and eventually composite varieties; and explain to farmers the specificity of each variety regarding environmental adaptation and cultural practices. To reduce overall risk, farmers should be encouraged to plant more than one variety. Local stakeholders (men and women farmers, private enterprises, NGOs and CSOs) should be encouraged to become more involved in supplying quality germplasm. Farmers and other stakeholders should be taught how to autonomously produce quality seedlings of hybrids and other varieties, using the Polymotu concept or any other accepted method.

2. In order to better assess and to boost the coconut value chain, the group recommends agricultural services create and/or strengthen national coconut farmer’s databases and create well-documented coconut parent palm databases by using the method and datasheets recently developed by R. Bourdeix, V. Kumar and V. Mataora. These databases should be conceived and implemented to link with other existing farmer’s databases. They should also integrate with Geographical Information Systems.

3. The meeting noted that nothing can replace well-designed, regular and sustainable breeding programs conducted by well-trained professionals. Expertise is needed to assess the coconut breeding programs presently existing in the Pacific Region; to help developing local skills; to create new programmes and to facilitate international collaboration between these programmes. SPC could play a crucial role in the process by ensuring safe germplasm exchanges between countries.

4. The suggestion of organizing coconut varietal contest should be encouraged at local, national and regional level, in order to increase awareness of the diversity existing within the countries and the region. Such contests could be integrated in yearly cultural events organized in most PICTs (such as Aloha festival in Hawaii of Teuila festival in Samoa).

5. The new concept of delocalized community-based coconut collection will be tested in the Cook Islands as a CIDP-funded activity, and should be extended to other countries.

6. Vanuatu should play a leading role as training centre for technical activities related to coconut breeding and germplasm conservation.

General management of coconut plantations

7. Recognize the importance of intercropping with a diversity of species, which are already being used by farmers, such as coffee, kava, cocoa, banana, noni, pineapple, fruit crops and vegetables for food security. Ministry of Agriculture and others can provide specific recommendations adapted to land capability regarding the best species to intercrop.

8. Focus on maintaining and enhancing soil fertility and microbiology by working with natural processes and maintaining high levels of biodiversity.

9. Replant young coconut palms under the old coconut palms and removing the old only when the young starts to fruit.

10. When rehabilitating old coconut groves without replanting, it is generally not profitable to apply fertilizer. The degradation of the roots of the forest regrowth will be enough to feed the coconut trees during some years.

11. New designs of cluster planting should be further tested by both farmers and scientists, as they could improve the economics of intercropping and improve cyclone stability of palms.

Organic management of coconut plantations

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Presently, many coconut by-products are used for organic cultivation of other crops, but not for cultivation of the coconut palms. In most Pacific Islands, coconuts contribute to feed organic chicken and pigs. The group made the following recommendations:

12. Recognize the crucial importance of organic coconut cultivation for the Pacific region, both for environmental and market reasons. Seednuts must come from certified organic origins, and conform the Pacific Organic Standard and/or other standards that are operating. The policies developed in Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa will support the growth of organic coconut industry.

13. Recognize that coconut palms are widely used for organic cultivation of other crops and organic breeding of pigs and chickens. Thus, farmers can benefit from coconut cultivation both by using the coconut by-products for their own other crops and/or by selling these by-products for preparation of organic fertilizers and substrates.

14. Encourage and strengthen the use of nitrogen fixing cover crops such as Pueraria, Mucuna or other species adapted to atoll conditions (e.g. Vigna marina) because they both improve the soil and strongly reduce the weeding work. Where possible, the technique of propagation by cuttings rather than seed, currently used in Solomon Islands, should be disseminated regionally.

15. At the nursery and planting stages, encourage the use of organic fertilizers for coconut cultivation. For container planting, husks, manure and biochar or charcoal could be added in the bag when filling it with soil. When planting bare-rooted seedlings, both coconut husks, dried and green leaves, manure and biochar/charcoal can be placed in the planting hole. Amendments depend on the nature of the soils, and the atoll soils need special attention regarding micro-nutrients (such as iron); there may be some advantage in inverting the A and B horizon so that more fertile soil is immediately available to the emerging roots.

16. Coconut husks are rich in potassium and retain moisture and coconut leaves make good ground cover to protect soil. It is preferable, instead of using them for compost, to surround the base of the coconut palm with a first layer of coconut husk and a second layer of coconut leaves; this will both feed the palms and reduce weed growth.

17. Study the possibility of preparing mulch from coconut stems by using closed spaces in which the Oryctes beetles can enter but cannot go out, and feed chicken and young pigs with the beetle.

Pests and diseases

18. Strengthen the communication between experts and groups working on coconut planting material and those working on coconut pests and diseases. Public awareness materials and actions on pest and disease management should include a component on selecting good planting material, nursery management and planting.

19. Investigate ways to obtain value from the huge quantity of Oryctes larva and adults presently harvested (up to 15 tons per month in some oil palm plantations).

20. Further work should be undertaken to look at ways to recover value from old palms as this will assist in financing establishment of new plantations. Opportunities exist in areas such as cocowood, cocowood veneer, use of the coconut heart, and conversion of old stems to biochar, but more work is needed on the practical implementation of these approaches. Further research is also needed on affordable and preferably organic products that are safe but can be used for stem injection to prevent Oryctes proliferation in the trunk; 3) kill the palm, 4) preserve and treat the wood for future utilization.

21. Recommendations need to be developed on proper disposal of coconut and other wood wastes, which can be possible breeding sites for Oryctes.

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22. Destruction of coconuts by beetles may have significant impact on tourism, particularly in Solomon Islands, Guam and Papua New Guinea and with significant economic flow-on effects. More investigation into the tolerance of diverse coconut varieties, the role of adequate plant nutrition, and other factors such as general phyto-sanitation be part of the solution. As it is easier to manage short palms than tall ones against Oryctes, the many Compact Dwarf varieties and their hybrids with local varieties should be tested and diffused, together with local Tall varieties. The meeting also endorses and supports the high-level priorities that have been agreed at the Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services meeting in Vanuatu in 2017.

23. Biosecurity awareness material should include advice to all member countries about activities being undertaken in countries where the new beetle strain is already present. Inter-island shipping biosecurity is critical e.g. farmers transporting compost or plant materials between islands.

Policies

24. Given the emerging risks to the coconut industry and need for large scale replanting, the group recommended that more dedicated resources be focused on coconut planting material, seed systems, and plantation management. In the small island developing states, at least one research and one extension officer should be dedicated to coconuts. Larger countries should consider the establishment of separate coconut units within their Ministries with a team focussed on coconuts.