By ZARA KANU
THE Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) is pushing for further downstream processing of coconut in coastal areas to enable producers to fully harness the potential of this crop.
Speaking on the Karai Talkback on NBC last Monday night, KIK chief Tore Ovasuru said the coconut crop has not been fully tapped until these days.
“A total of 101 products can be produced from the coconut itself,” Mr Ovasuru said on the talkback programme.
“The overall objective is to increase productivity through the medium-term development strategy (MTDS) which prioritises poverty alleviation and ensuring coconut producers diversify in their coconut-based activities.
“The importance of coconut as a food source has benefited most parts of the Highlands, where it has become an integral part of the daily food trade,” Mr Ovasuru said.
He said coconut is also gaining importance as source of home-made fuel.
“Copra production has dropped because there is at present lack of basic infrastructure,” Mr Ovasuru noted.