Production, Marketing and Economic Importance of Mnazi and Other Coconut-based Products in Kenya

Abstract

Study on production and marketing of palm wine (mnazi) and other coconut-based products was conducted at the coastal region of Kenya between June 2002 and April 2003. Both stratified and areasampling methods were employed using two questionnaires; one for the tappers and the other one for the farmers. A total of 9,155 coconut tree farmers and 2,814 mnazi tappers from six geographical districts in the Kenyan coastal province were interviewed. From the production results coconut, copra, “makuti”, “fagio” and “madafu” were the main coconut based products. According to the study, there were 4.84 milion coconut trees, out of which only 2% were tapped producing 4.95 million decalitres of mnazi per year. The yearly copra production was 48,402 metric tones per year. Tappers own 35.5 % of the trees tapped while farmers owned the remaining 64.5 %. The yearly income generated from the sale of mnazi wine was Kshs.367.83 million ($471,579), while other coconut-based products generated Kshs.856.01 million ($1.10 million) per year. The average income per tapper per year was estimated at Kshs.63.80 thousand ($818), while farmers earned Kshs.41.12 thousand ($527) per year. The study indicated the need for proper government policy through the establishment of coconut boards so as to monitor production, processing and marketing of the coconut-based products.