Post by Trade facilitator on Nov 1, 2011 21:01:40 GMT 1
Kolanut/Bitter Kola Marketers and Exporters Association of Nigeria is gearing up to host the world in the first Kola nut/Bitter Kola World Summit proposed for some time in 2012. This was hinted by the national president of the association, Samson Babadara in his address at a stakeholders' forum on Kola nut and Bitter Kola in Ikeja, Lagos. "The staging of such summit in Nigeria which produces over 70% of kola nut globally is expected to bring to Nigeria all users of kola nut and bitter kola and the by-products from the rest of the world.
"This will open up the products for international acceptance and bring more income to the nation," he said. Stakeholders on kola nuts/bitter kola convened in Lagos in a brainstorming session geared towards, the promotion of kola nut production and marketing that would determine an acceptable grading and storage system for kola products, provide an internationally accepted packaging system for the products, lead to standard pricing for the product and other issues for a way forward on the product. Kola nuts/bitter kolas are tropical nuts and comprise about 125 species. A good number of the species are widely cultivated. Colour is used to differentiate between three subspecies of cola nitida: red, white or intermediate shades of pink. The white though sold in large quantities in Northern Cameroon is imported from Nigeria. The seed of kola nuts contains 13.5% water, 9.5% crude protein, 1.4% tannin and 3% ash. It is also rich in caffeine and theobromine 0.05%. Kola is comparatively richer in caffeine than cocoa and coffee. Is widely consumed in West and central Africa as a masticator to counter fatigue, suppress thirst and hunger and is believed to enhance intellectual capacity. It is for this reason that kola nut chewing has become very popular among students, drivers, and many other consumers who need to remain active for unusually long periods.
The crop's extract is used industrially for the manufacturing of many cola type soft drink flavours, as a source of caffeine used for pharmaceutical products and essential oils and as a main ingredient in the production of heat - tolerant chocolate bars. In addition, caffeine is known to be a fat burner and, therefore, beneficial in weight loss. Several by-products are derivable from it: wine, pectin, jam, jelly, decaffeinated kola powder, tannin (food colours and dyes), liquid (soap) detergent and the utilization of kola pod husk in the formulation of poultry feeds, organic manure/fertilizer and kola testa (the slim outer covering of kola nut) for snailery feed. The leaves, twigs, flowers, fruit follicles and the bark are used to prepare a concoction as a remedy for dysentery, coughs, diarrhea, vomiting and chest complaints. Kola is also of high socio-cultural importance to many African people. It is offered in birth, naming marriage and death ceremonies as an acknowledgment of concern to visitors. It is shared to demonstrate peace an agreement after settling disputes between conflicting parties. The greatest production period is usually from October to December and smaller harvest period March and April. Unfortunately, however, the economic essence in terms of enhancement of marketing and exportation value has not been harnessed and explore to close the gap for the stakeholders and farmers. Was on this stance that the stakeholders gathered for brainstorming session.
Several papers were presented at the meeting with their specific highlight namely: in a presentation by Shobowale, Executive Director, National Agricultural Seed Council entitled: "Promotion of Kolanut/Bitter Kola Production and Marketing Through the Use of Quality Planting Materials” posited that the potentials, of kola n notwithstanding, the crop has not been given the attention it deserves like some other tree crops which government had supported in the past, especially in the area of provision of improved planting materials: and other agricultural inputs, the outcome of such interventions has substantial resulted in increased tree crop production. He also called for the establishment 'Kola nut Development Fund', a System whereby a percentage of the export gains is harvested and donated to support local kola nut/bitter kola development through Public Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement. Jayeola and Olubamiwa both of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan in a paper entitled: 'Kolanut Grading and Storage System, Towards Meeting International Market Trends a Development' pointed out that the quality of the nuts depended largely on the care with which the harvesting, cleaning curing were carried out.
Under the best conditions, the seed may be stored for many months without decline in quality. Kola can be stored for up to two years, usually in baskets or old fertilizer type of bags if kept dry with a temperature of 20°C and relative humidity of 75-100%. Kolanuts stored in polyethylene bags are rated first, followed closely by those stored with cordefolia cola leaves or dry plantain in terms of firmness, freshness and crunchiness during chewing. Usually, however, white nuts are preferred to pink, purple or red in both traditional and commercial markets. Large quantities of kolanuts have been traded among the countries in West and Central Africa, and the sub-Saharan Africa for centuries. Until the establishment of kolanut plantations in South and Central America, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, there was considerable export from this region to the rest of the world.
"The current significant decline in kola productivity," they recommended, "highlights the need for a selective breeding programme. This will require provenance trails and the establishment of seed orchards for the supply of improved stock to farmers. There is the need for the expansion of the international market in order to encourage exports and boost the income of kola farmers. This may require the development of new proceeding technologies and the dissemination of information on the potential food and medicinal products that can be manufactured using kolanuts". In a case study analysis report by the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) in the development of kola production in Nigeria with special emphasis on kola production in Lagos State, the center stressed that in collaboration with CRIN, it had conducted various On-Farm Adaptive Research Projects and Experiments with great success.
CERUD lamented that despite all the efforts and achievements, kola farmers were selling off their inherited kola farms at an alarming rate. "The reasons are not far- fetched. The few millions of Naira offered to them encourage this dastardly act. The onus therefore lies on us present at this forum to once more help raise the economic potential of the age old cash crop of South West Nigeria," he said. At plenary sessions, members could not but agree to all presentations and more facts surfaced like: Niger and Sudan do not have a tree of kola but have a very high export level of the product, while Nigeria, with about 70% production, is nowhere in the international market. Fausat Omobolayi Adekoya a kola nut farmer and marketer, noted that Nigeria's kola was widely accepted worldwide, citing example with a recent trade fair in Senegal where Nigeria kola sold tremendously but buyers had thought that such very good kola products were from Mali which had been trading the product in the international market.
The forum revealed that there were states in Nigeria producing kolanut with Osun as the highest producer. A committee was set to further continue articulation on the proposed world summit on kolanut. The committee members were: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, National Export Promotion Council, Raw Material Research and Development Council, Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange, National Agricultural Seeds Council, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, and four members from Kolanut/Bitter Kola Marketers and Exporters Association of Nigeria. The forum also warned against the use of restricted and/or banned pesticides and thereby proposed the use organic production for kola due mainly to international organization; issued warning on the level of residue from use of dangerous pesticides.
Source: www.nctmagazine.com/kolanut.php
Learn more about Bitter Kola Export in Nigeria @ biterkolaexport.tripod.com/
and Kola Nut Export kolanutexport.proboards.com/
"This will open up the products for international acceptance and bring more income to the nation," he said. Stakeholders on kola nuts/bitter kola convened in Lagos in a brainstorming session geared towards, the promotion of kola nut production and marketing that would determine an acceptable grading and storage system for kola products, provide an internationally accepted packaging system for the products, lead to standard pricing for the product and other issues for a way forward on the product. Kola nuts/bitter kolas are tropical nuts and comprise about 125 species. A good number of the species are widely cultivated. Colour is used to differentiate between three subspecies of cola nitida: red, white or intermediate shades of pink. The white though sold in large quantities in Northern Cameroon is imported from Nigeria. The seed of kola nuts contains 13.5% water, 9.5% crude protein, 1.4% tannin and 3% ash. It is also rich in caffeine and theobromine 0.05%. Kola is comparatively richer in caffeine than cocoa and coffee. Is widely consumed in West and central Africa as a masticator to counter fatigue, suppress thirst and hunger and is believed to enhance intellectual capacity. It is for this reason that kola nut chewing has become very popular among students, drivers, and many other consumers who need to remain active for unusually long periods.
The crop's extract is used industrially for the manufacturing of many cola type soft drink flavours, as a source of caffeine used for pharmaceutical products and essential oils and as a main ingredient in the production of heat - tolerant chocolate bars. In addition, caffeine is known to be a fat burner and, therefore, beneficial in weight loss. Several by-products are derivable from it: wine, pectin, jam, jelly, decaffeinated kola powder, tannin (food colours and dyes), liquid (soap) detergent and the utilization of kola pod husk in the formulation of poultry feeds, organic manure/fertilizer and kola testa (the slim outer covering of kola nut) for snailery feed. The leaves, twigs, flowers, fruit follicles and the bark are used to prepare a concoction as a remedy for dysentery, coughs, diarrhea, vomiting and chest complaints. Kola is also of high socio-cultural importance to many African people. It is offered in birth, naming marriage and death ceremonies as an acknowledgment of concern to visitors. It is shared to demonstrate peace an agreement after settling disputes between conflicting parties. The greatest production period is usually from October to December and smaller harvest period March and April. Unfortunately, however, the economic essence in terms of enhancement of marketing and exportation value has not been harnessed and explore to close the gap for the stakeholders and farmers. Was on this stance that the stakeholders gathered for brainstorming session.
Several papers were presented at the meeting with their specific highlight namely: in a presentation by Shobowale, Executive Director, National Agricultural Seed Council entitled: "Promotion of Kolanut/Bitter Kola Production and Marketing Through the Use of Quality Planting Materials” posited that the potentials, of kola n notwithstanding, the crop has not been given the attention it deserves like some other tree crops which government had supported in the past, especially in the area of provision of improved planting materials: and other agricultural inputs, the outcome of such interventions has substantial resulted in increased tree crop production. He also called for the establishment 'Kola nut Development Fund', a System whereby a percentage of the export gains is harvested and donated to support local kola nut/bitter kola development through Public Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement. Jayeola and Olubamiwa both of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan in a paper entitled: 'Kolanut Grading and Storage System, Towards Meeting International Market Trends a Development' pointed out that the quality of the nuts depended largely on the care with which the harvesting, cleaning curing were carried out.
Under the best conditions, the seed may be stored for many months without decline in quality. Kola can be stored for up to two years, usually in baskets or old fertilizer type of bags if kept dry with a temperature of 20°C and relative humidity of 75-100%. Kolanuts stored in polyethylene bags are rated first, followed closely by those stored with cordefolia cola leaves or dry plantain in terms of firmness, freshness and crunchiness during chewing. Usually, however, white nuts are preferred to pink, purple or red in both traditional and commercial markets. Large quantities of kolanuts have been traded among the countries in West and Central Africa, and the sub-Saharan Africa for centuries. Until the establishment of kolanut plantations in South and Central America, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, there was considerable export from this region to the rest of the world.
"The current significant decline in kola productivity," they recommended, "highlights the need for a selective breeding programme. This will require provenance trails and the establishment of seed orchards for the supply of improved stock to farmers. There is the need for the expansion of the international market in order to encourage exports and boost the income of kola farmers. This may require the development of new proceeding technologies and the dissemination of information on the potential food and medicinal products that can be manufactured using kolanuts". In a case study analysis report by the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) in the development of kola production in Nigeria with special emphasis on kola production in Lagos State, the center stressed that in collaboration with CRIN, it had conducted various On-Farm Adaptive Research Projects and Experiments with great success.
CERUD lamented that despite all the efforts and achievements, kola farmers were selling off their inherited kola farms at an alarming rate. "The reasons are not far- fetched. The few millions of Naira offered to them encourage this dastardly act. The onus therefore lies on us present at this forum to once more help raise the economic potential of the age old cash crop of South West Nigeria," he said. At plenary sessions, members could not but agree to all presentations and more facts surfaced like: Niger and Sudan do not have a tree of kola but have a very high export level of the product, while Nigeria, with about 70% production, is nowhere in the international market. Fausat Omobolayi Adekoya a kola nut farmer and marketer, noted that Nigeria's kola was widely accepted worldwide, citing example with a recent trade fair in Senegal where Nigeria kola sold tremendously but buyers had thought that such very good kola products were from Mali which had been trading the product in the international market.
The forum revealed that there were states in Nigeria producing kolanut with Osun as the highest producer. A committee was set to further continue articulation on the proposed world summit on kolanut. The committee members were: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, National Export Promotion Council, Raw Material Research and Development Council, Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange, National Agricultural Seeds Council, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, and four members from Kolanut/Bitter Kola Marketers and Exporters Association of Nigeria. The forum also warned against the use of restricted and/or banned pesticides and thereby proposed the use organic production for kola due mainly to international organization; issued warning on the level of residue from use of dangerous pesticides.
Source: www.nctmagazine.com/kolanut.php
Learn more about Bitter Kola Export in Nigeria @ biterkolaexport.tripod.com/
and Kola Nut Export kolanutexport.proboards.com/
