The Basics of Starting A New Coconut Plantation

6/3/2019 The Basics of Starting a New Coconut Plantation
TRAINEE AGRICULTURIST IN MALAYSIA

It is what we think we already know that often prevents us from learning.
December 30, 2015
THE BASICS OF STARTING A NEW COCONUT PLANTATION

—
The Basics of Starting a New Coconut Plantation
I have been receiving quite a few requests of late regarding information in setting-up a coconut plantation. While I would love to
write a comprehensive coverage of all aspects involved in establishing a coconut plantation, it will be an enormous undertaking, and
something that cannot be covered simply in blog posts.
Instead, I will give some basics of starting a new coconut plantation, the key cost elements and man-power management
requirements.
Alright then, let's get down to it.
There are a number of important stages when attempting to set up a successful coconut plantation. Now, a lot of people may think:
“What’s so dif cult? Just look for a germinated coconut, dig a hole, and plant it!”
Well, that method may work if all you want is a coconut tree, or if the coconuts are meant to be ornamental plants. But for a
thriving, production coconut plantation, extra care and consideration will be needed.
A summary of these steps and stages are as follows:
Stage A: Preparing the coconut seedlings
As any serious agriculturist will tell you, getting the right planting materials is critical to the success or failure of crop production.
This is even more important when it comes to perennial tree crops such as coconuts, since once the coconut palm is planted it
becomes a 25 to 30 year-long commitment. Even if one is willing to correct the planting mistakes, it would have been 4-5 years
along before any serious crop production issues are detected. And unlike many other tree crops where you can graft a superior
variety onto the mediocre stock, and therefore change the variety of crop, this technique does not work with coconut palms. If a
palm was to be replaced, it would have to be supplanted with another coconut seedling; and the waiting game starts over again.
So, I have to stress this point: get your coconut seedlings right. It will save you from a lot of headaches later on.
traineeagriculturist.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-basics-of-starting-new-coconut.html#more 1/19

Step 1: Choosing the right variety
There are a great many varieties of coconuts available to growers in the tropics, but broadly speaking, they can be classi ed into
three general group: Tall, hybrids, and Dwarf. Each group has its own merit, and each cultivar within the group has its own unique
feature that adds to its economic value.
But for most smallholders, the real economic value in coconut is through the sale of tender drinking nuts, i.e. young coconuts with a
high volume of sweet coconut water, and soft pulpy endosperm. As such, coconuts from the hybrid and Dwarf groups are of greater
relevance to smallholder, given the shorter stature, ease of management and harvest, and quicker fruit bearing.
In Malaysia, the most popular hybrid variety is the MATAG hybrid coconut. The MATAG is a multipurpose coconut variety, being a
good variety for producing tender drinking nuts, as well as mature coconuts for the production of coconut milk. The husk bers are
also dense, making it suitable for production of coir. Supply of seedlings can be obtained from the Department of Agriculture.
However, I have been made to understand that the supply is limited, and usually fully booked by farmers’ cooperatives.
MATAG hybrid coconut
The other popular hybrid variety is the MAWA hybrid coconut. However, production of seedlings is limited, since the MATAG has
pretty much replaced the MAWA as the premium variety of coconut. However, it is sometimes possible to get planting materials
from DOA, if you are lucky. The MAWA does not produce very large coconuts or tender nuts with a very high volume of coconut
water; however it does produce a high quality and quantity of coconut milk, which is also very fragrant and sweet.
MAWA hybrid coconut
But the premium coconut of choice for tender drinking nut production in Malaysia comes from a Dwarf variety: the Aromatic Green
Dwarf, a.k.a. the Pandan coconut. As its names say, the sweet coconut water is highly aromatic, with a strong resemblance to the
scent of lightly bruised pandanus leaves. The medium-sized nuts good volume of coconut water, ranging around 600ml per nut, and
the soft endosperm has a nice jelly-like consistency. This premium variety fetches a very high ex-farm price, ranging around
RM2.50 for a good sized nut. Retail prices often reach RM6.00 per nut, even at roadside stalls and eateries. Probably due to its
popularity, it is hard to nd seedlings in large quantities from a single source; the best sources are from Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah),
Kajang (Selangor), and MARDI research stations (the best is Teluk Intan, Perak).
Young Pandan coconut palms
More common, and in fact often frowned upon, are the Malayan Dwarf varieties. There are two important varieties: the Malayan Red
Dwarf (MRD), and the Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD). Both look quite similar, except that the MRD produces fronds with
reddish/orange rachis and red-orange nuts, while the MYD produces yellow-green rachis and bright yellow nuts. Both varieties are
very common place in Malaysia, especially the MYD. They produce medium sized nuts that are either bright yellow or red-orange,
and the coconut water of both are sweetish-sour tasting, and carries a faint buttery coconut aroma. The endosperm is often rmer,
as the coconuts from these varieties are often harvested at an older age. Since these varieties are so commonplace in Malaysia, not
many vendors actually sell fresh tender whole nuts; it is usually sold in the form of cups or jugs, with added sugar to increase the
sweetness of the drink. You will usually nd them being sold in the pasar malam and roadside stalls.
Young MRD coconut palms
There are a few more aspects to consider when choosing the right coconut variety, but I shall not touch on those areas, since doing
so will amount to me writing a book. What should be kept in mind is that while coconuts are often synonymous with the seaside,
they actually do far better on inland and coastal alluvial soils, not sand. If you only have coastal (sandy) soils to plant, then go with
only hybrids or Tall varieties; growth and yield of Dwarfs are negatively affected by the porous soil and saline water.
Step 2: Setting up a coconut seedling nursery
This is an aspect in coconut planting that seems to be often neglected. After all, coconuts seem to grow so commonly and with ease
in this country.
However, as with all crops of economic value, starting the crop on the right foot is the most important step towards a successful
farming enterprise. If one is unable or not willing to make the effort to do so, then they should not venture into agriculture in the
rst place.
It would impractical for most coconut planters to germinate their own coconut seedlings, since doing this would require a lot of
time, effort, space and technical expertise. Thus, it would be best for the coconut farmer to source his/her coconut "seednuts" from
a certi ed seed producer. I have already mentioned few previously.
Usually, seednuts are sold as emergents, which can be seen in the picture as follows:
These would have a growing point of about 30cm height (up to emergent leaf), and very few emerging roots at the base. With
certi ed seed producers, culling and selection of salable seednuts would have already been conducted, so the farmer may buy such
materials with con dence. Seednuts will be sold as bareroots, and the farmer will need to purchase and prepare his/her coconut
seedlings at least 1 year prior to eld planting.
Seednuts that are purchased must rst be transplanted into polybags and allowed to grow to the ideal eld planting sizes. The
following series of transplanting steps show how this should be done:
Step 1: Place seednut into polybag half- lled with soil
Step 2: Top up with more soil
Step 3: Firm down the soil, leaving a little bit of husk exposed
Polybag sizes should be 45cm x 45cm (lay at), and need to be 500-gauge black with perforations. Do note that for optimized
transplanting of seednuts, the polybags should be half- lled 3 days in advance and watered daily, to allow settling of the soil. Once
seednuts have been transplanted, make sure to water the seedling adequately. Each seedling will require 2,500ml of water per day in
the absence of rain, which can be achieved by water for 30 minutes twice a day (morning & evening) using a sprinkler system.
Otherwise, hand-watering using a measured water can is advised. Spacing in the nursery should be 1m x 1m equilateral triangle,
amounting to 4,000 plams per acre. But since you will only need less than 100 palms for each acre (71 seedlings if planting hybrid +
10% for supply planting; 88 seedlings if planting Dwarf + 10% for supply planting), you should adjust this gure accordingly.
Seedlings are maintained in the nursery up to 1 year before eld planting.
Temporary coconut seedling nursery, 6-months old from sowing
Yes, I know that a lot of farmers don't bother with these steps; but there are many good reasons for keeping this practice. Not only
will the older and more mature seedlings be quicker to establish, they are also less susceptible to stunting and transplanting shock
in the eld compared to seednuts that are planted directly into the ground. In particular, the root system of a 1-year old seedling is
better developed and robust, compared to a 6-month old seednut.
Direct planting of seednuts into the eld.
As can be seen from old palm behind, no uniform growth
You have to bear in mind that every palm you plant is a 25-30 year investment, so make sure the rst steps are the right ones, or
you will be stuck with a 25-year long mistake.
Stage B: Field planting
Once the seedlings have attained the suitable planting age, the next stage involves preparing the eld. This process is quite straight
forward, the only few crucial things being the planting system used, and preparation of the seedlings prior to eld planting
operation.
Step 3: Preparation of seedlings for eld planting
12-month to 15-month old coconut seedlings designated for eld planting must be prepared at least 2-3 weeks beforehand. This
reason for this step is to minimize transplanting shock experienced by seedling once transferred into the eld. Ideally, seedlings
should be of a similar height; any that are obviously under-sized should be set aside in favor of more robust siblings.

To prepare the seedlings for eld planting, pruning of the basal fronds must be carried out, followed by root-pruning of half the
basal area (a semi circle, taking care not to cut the polybag) at least 2-3 weeks before eld planting. Watering must be intensi ed on
the day when root pruning is carried out.
Two or three days prior to eld planting, seedling fronds are trimmed in diamond shape, and tied. The balance of 50% roots are
pruned one day before dispatching the seedling into the eld for planting, and must be watered thoroughly.
When moving the seedlings, it is important to ensure that they are handled with care to prevent damaging the nursery bags. The
correct way is to hold the seedlings whilst supporting the base of the bag. Thus, there must be suf cient labor for the operation of
moving seedlings from the nursery to the eld.
Step 4: Land preparation and spacing
With coconuts, timing when to plant your palms is important. Normal planting months are in April to May, or September to
December. These are the typical monsoon seasons in Malaysia, where there will be adequate rainfall during eld planting, thus
ensuring that your palms do not suffer from transpiration stress. Do note that for areas typically hit hard by the monsoon rains (eg.
East Coast states), it would best to plant during the less severe monsoon months, typically during April to May.
Cleared and prepared eld, reading for planting coconut seedlings
Same eld two months later, after coconut seedlings had been planted
Field clearing should commence 2 months ahead of the target planting date. Brush and unwanted vegetation should be felled,
cleared and burned. Two type of row plantings are normally found in coconut plantation, but the most ef cient method in Malaysia
is known as the "double-hedged row". This planting system facilitates in- eld mechanization, allowing ef cient grass mowing,
fertilizer spreading, and also evacuation of harvest coconuts. The following dimensions are used in a double-hedged row system:
Talls and hybrid coconuts cultivars:
Distance (row-to-row): Cambered area 8.5m

Distance (row-to-row): Field drain 6.5m
Distance (in a row): Palm to Palm 7.5m
Dwarf and Pandan coconut cultivars:
Distance (row-to-row): Cambered area 7.25m

Distance (row-to-row): Field drain 6.25m
Distance (in a row): Palm to Palm 5.93m
Field drains of dimension 4'x3'x2' alternate with scupper drain of dimension 3'x2'x1'. Two rows of coconut are planted per drain
block.
This results in coconut palms that are planted at a density of 178 palms/ha under the double-hedged planting system for tall and
hybrid coconut palms, and 220 palms/ha for dwarf and Pandan coconut palms.
Cover crops, such as mucuna, are often planted to protect the bare soil of newly planted elds. This helps retain soil moisture
content, and when the cover crop dies back, adds back organic matters and soil nutrients locked deep underground to the top soil.
It would be a good practice to plant cover crops, but maintaining this will add additional costs to the grower, as the cover crop has
to be pruned and cut back each month in order to prevent it from choking the young palms. Once the palms have reached 5-6 years
of age, the cover crop can be killed off, either through the use of weedicides, or by natural shading.
Immature coconut eld with mucuna cover crop
Immature coconut eld with no cover crop
Stage C: Upkeep and management of coconut plantation
The initial years of establishment would see you weeding back the cover crop (if you've planted them), mowing down the grasses, and applying
fertilizer for your young palms. After 3-4 years, your young palms will comes into rst bearing, and this is when you will rst begin to harvest the fruits
of your labor.
Step 5: General maintenance of coconut plantation
Coconut plantations are fairly bare of grasses and weeds during the high productivity years (years 8-18). However, during the
immature and late years, when sunlight penetration is high, weeds will be more abundant. Nonetheless, it is a good practice not to
kill off all the weeds and grass, but instead to manage and crop them down. This helps to hold the soil and retain moisture, house
bene cial insects, and keep the palm in a good, healthy state. Thus, mowing down the grass and leafy weeds is the suggested
option; for broadleaf shrubs, contact weedicides could be used.
Note the mowed grass in this MRD coconut eld
Chemical fertilizer should be applied to supplement inherent soil nutrients to provide a steady supply of balanced nutrient range
required for the healthy growth of palms. The quantity and quality of the fertilizer applied, and their timing and placement, are
important aspects to be considered to ensure proper realization of this input.
The manuring regimes are as follows:
(i) 2kg Urea

(ii) 2kg Muriate of potash (MOP)
(iii) 1kg Rock phosphate (RP)
Do note that the rates above are for each palm, per year. You will need to split the amount according to how many round of
fertilizer application is carried out in a year. It is recommended that at least 4 rounds be carried out, i.e. 500g urea + 500g MOP +
250g RP per application; but preferably, 8 rounds is ideal , i.e. 250g urea + 250g MOP + 125g RP per application.
When manuring, avoid spreading the fertilizer to broadly. It is important that the fertilizers are applied within the root zone area.
One trick that many growers do is to spread some of the fertilizer over the frond heap stacked at the inter-palm area. As the frond
heap traps a lot of moisture and organic nutrients, coconut roots tend to congregate beneath the heap. Thus, applying some
fertilizer onto the heap would target the coconut roots there, thereby feeding the palms more ef ciently.
Note the spread-out frond heap between each palm.
The center is a scupper (shallow) drain
Another important note is that the fertilizer rates above is not xed, and will vary according to soil type, productivity, foliar nutrient
status, age, and yield targets. But of course, not all growers will have access to the necessary analytical equipment, so engage a
government agriculture extension of cer for further advice when necessary.
Coconuts are normally self-pruning, meaning that dead fronds and bunch stalks will dry and fall on their accord. However, it is still
a good practice to remove them off the palm where they don’t fall naturally, and stack them neatly on the inter-palm heap. There is
great value in keeping this practice; as the dead fronds and bunch stalks break down, they actually release micronutrients back into
the soil. This helps increase the soil nutrient content and biomass over time, which will further improve your coconut palm’s health.
In addition, such frond heaps act as moisture traps, and help provide an alternate source of moisture to palm roots. As mentioned
earlier, fertilizers may also be applied to this zone, as the coconut root mass tends to congregate here, thereby ensuring that your
fertilizer is targeted to the roots of the palms.
Step 6: Harvesting of coconuts
(a) Harvesting of tender nuts
Tender nuts are harvested when the nuts are about 7 months old. Harvesting intervals are 17-21 days per round, depending on
the preferences of the buyers and the consumers. This is usually pertaining to the thickness and harness of the soft coconut
esh; at 17 days, the esh are very jelly-like, whereas at 21 days, there is some rmness to the esh.
During harvesting, the harvester must remove all dried fronds and place them along the eld drain edges, or cut them into
smaller section and place them in the inter-palm spaces
Harvesting operation is a two-man job. One person climbs up the palms using a sturdy ladder, and attaches a harvesting harness
(hook and rope) onto the bunch of coconut. The person below pulls the harness tout, to give some tension onto the bunch, and
the stalk of the bunch is then cut and freed from the palm by the person on top. The person below will then carefully lower the
bunch of coconut onto the ground.
Harvesting tender nuts from a tall coconut palm.

Note the rope being guided by the harvester, and the hooked bunch being lowered on the right
This method of harvesting ensures that the tender young coconuts are not bruised or damaged, since this will not only affect the
appearance of the nuts, but any internal damages will cause the nuts to spoil fast. Bunches harvested this way will have a shelf
life of 4-5 days if kept in chilled room.
The harvested bunch being safely landed onto the ground.
Notice the hook attached to the rope.
(b) Harvesting of mature nuts
For mature nuts, coconuts are plucked when their exocarp (skin) turns fully brown. For hybrids and Dwarfs, harvesting is done
every 36 days (10 rounds per year); whereas for MAWA, which are late germinators, harvesting intervals are 45 days per cycle (8
rounds per year).
The harvesting operation consists of plucking the ripe nuts from the palms, or shaking them loose from the bunch using a long
pole.
Harvesting mature brown coconuts using a long pole
Care must be given! Since there have been cases when loose mature coconuts have fallen on people’s heads, leading to serious
head injuries and death. It is suggested that safety helmets be provided when dealing with especially tall palms.
General costings of setting up a coconut plantation
The cost to set-up a coconut plantation will obviously vary according to location. The key variables are usually tied to the land (eg.
terrain and contour, soil type), and also farm input costs (eg. labor costs, fertilizer prices, planting material costs). Thus, the
following costings should be taken only as an approximation to the costs of starting a coconut plantation:
Seedling Cost:
Bare-root seednut from seed garden RM 2,500 (RM10 x 250

pc)
Soil, polybag, fertilizer, pest & disease RM 1,500 (for 250 pc)
etc.
Cost of planting size RM 4,000

Coconut Planting Costs to Maturity:
Year 1: Land preparation, planting RM 8,000/ha

Year 2: General upkeep of immature RM 2,200/ha
palms
palms
palms
Cost to maturity RM 15,200/ha
Mature Coconut Annual Costings:

Activity Cost/ha
Weeding RM 200.00
Manuring / fertilizer application RM 1,400.00
Pest & disease management RM 31.00
Pruning / sanitation RM 15.00
Upkeep of roads, paths & bridges RM 90.00
Upkeep of drains RM 35.00
Sundries & Misc. RM 65.00
Harvesting & collection RM 100,00
Annual costs after maturity RM 1,936.00
Do note however that the ideal size for a pro table coconut plantation is at least 4 hectares (10acres), and that the breakdown above
has been pared down to t 1 hectare. Also, costs may vary by location, local labor and equipment costs, etc. Thus, the gures above
serve merely as a guide.
Typical yields of a mature coconut plantation are 23,000 nuts/ha/year; but for your rst 4 years of crop production (after the 3-
year immature stage), yields would range around 10,000 nuts/ha/year only. Thus, the average cost factor for the rst 4 years of
crop production will be about RM0.68 per nut; thereafter, the cost of production will fall sharply to around RM0.08 per nut.
Therefore, assuming no additional costs are incurred, a minimum sales price of RM1.00-RM1.50 is needed to break even within the
rst 10 years.
Hopefully, this post will now give everyone some idea about what is involved with starting up a coconut plantation!
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Labels: coconut farm, cost, MATAG, MAWA, new plantation
COMMENTS
unknown 18 February 2016 at 18:58

Hi Michael... rstly thanks for such a detailed right up.. was just wondering the gures given of about 15k plus for rst 4 yrs till the is some
income.. is this gures achiveable in this current times or are this gures of many years back?... is the 8k for land preparation and planting per
hectare include the seedlings? Thanks again for the write up and hope to get some feedback soon...
Michael J. 21 February 2016 at 17:41
Good day. To answer your question:
1. Yes, these gures are a few years outdated, and costs would be a little different now. However, as I've noted, the cost will vary
according to local situation, eg. the labor cost in the East Coast states of Malaysia is much lower compared to the West Coast,
fertilizer cost in the West Coast is cheaper than the East Coast, etc. Hence, the gure I've posted here should be viewed as a ballpark
gure only.
2. The land preparation and planting cost does not include the cost of seedlings. Thank you for asking the question, I think it would
be bene cial for me to add in a costing aspect for the seedlings.
Depending on which option you choose (whether to raise your own seedlings, or direct purchase of eld planting size), the cost will
range between RM2,500 - RM5,000 for 250 Pandan coconut seedlings, assuming seedling cost range between RM10 to RM20 each.
REPLY
Sorry detailed write up a great job
REPLY
Thanks for the quick reply... so basically add 5k to the rst 4 yrs for seedling that brings cost to about 20k to 21k per hactare for rst 4 years
before maturity...is this a safe gure and would not defer much? What would be a max cost for rst 4yrs just to be safe that we can be assured
we wont run out of budget...
Is there a price for matag seedling that you know off?
After maturity the cost is about 2k per hactare... can i put that as a safe cost also that would include all possible expenditure... to be safe what
is max yearly cost per hactare for after 4th year once matured?
Thanks for ur help i just want to know at maximum cost possible is the coconut plantation still viable...
Michael J. 25 February 2016 at 19:28
Good day.
The price for MATAG seedlings, if you purchase under JPPK farming scheme is about RM18 per seednut. Do not buy from outside
sellers, which are not certi ed seed producers, even if their prices are cheap. Do take note that MATAG is a hybrid coconut variety,
so if you take F2, F3, F4 etc. as how they are often marketed by these outside sellers, it will not be true to type. As far as I am aware,
there are only 2 certi ed seed producers of MATAG, which is DOA/MARDI (in collaboration), and United Plantations Bhd.
Friend... there is no “safe” gure. There are a lot of risks in agriculture, such as continuous bad weather, sudden surge in
pests/diseases, natural disasters etc., and any of these will in ate your costs. But, assuming that all variables are at normal levels,
the land quality is good, the pest and disease pressure is acceptable, and manpower adequate etc., then the costs gure would be
within range, with about 10% variance for unbudgeted direct costs (eg. need to hire extra workers due to higher than normal crop).
But to really answer your question, if you want to be safe, then have at least 2x the budget. If you think that is a lot: yes, it is. That is
why there are more people doing other businesses, than going into smallholder farming. With most other businesses, you are
playing dice with customers and clients, essentially human being with more predictable patterns. Your will power and determination
to succeed only has to surpass the average person. In smallholder agriculture, especially one that is dependent on the land, you are
playing dice with God on a daily basis. Your willpower and determination therefore has to at a God-like level.
Not to discourage you, but only to make you aware. If you go into smallholder agriculture, it must not be driven by interest; passion
has to be the key driver. Interest will only keep you going as long as it is interesting to you; but passion will ensure you stay put
through the blood, sweat, and tears. Literally speaking.
REPLY
Knightliness 6 April 2016 at 02:06
Good day, I am Eric from Sarawak. Thank you for the Info, very very useful, I have a 3 acres land, which take 30 minutes drive from my home. I
am thinking to utilize it, and it already have road access to it. All i need is just to clear the land, drainage system, and construction cost then
ready to go. However, the land size is just about 3 acres, do you recommend for coconut farming? will it be too small? Thank you again for so
much infor. Appreciated it.
REPLY
Michael J. 6 April 2016 at 02:30
Good day Knightliness.
Honestly speaking, plantations are only truly pro table with a minimum of 10 hectares. Anything smaller than that, and the venture is not
really worth the effort.
TRAINEE
For eg., AGRICULTURIST INproduces
1 hectare of coconuts MALAYSIAaround 22,000 nuts a year, which wholesales at RM0.60 per tender nut (for MATAG and tall-related
varieties); that is equal to RM13,200 a year in gross revenue. I think it is possible to earn more working for someone else instead. But for 10
hectare, then you are talking about good money, since your gross revenue is around RM132,000 and even after deducting costs, you are
looking at nett returns in the vicinity of RM100,000 a year (or about RM8,300 a month).
And the above has not factored in doing your own processing, eg. dehusking and packaging, which hikes up your coconut prices to around
RM2.00+/- per nut wholesale.
So bottomline is, I would think that you should focus on some other crop if you have less than 10 hectares of land. Maybe short cycle crops
like chili (1kg wholesale around RM5, 1 hectare produces about 6000kg every 5-6 month cycle).
Lawrence Choo 31 December 2018 at 02:19
Hi Michael, thank for your information . If you had realised, that price of one raw coconut can be sold 5rm to 7 rm or even 7.90 in
some shopping outlet. I believed that coconut now is currently highly demanded in the market. More products such jelly coconut,
branding coconut(http://www.hamona.com/hamona-the-premium-coconut) can make it to the market and now coco drink is also
out in the market as new technology improve, that why people are very interested in coco nut now days. For hamona has received a
substantial amount of funding from kickstarter. I think now day farming should not nice focus on quantity but also the quality. Rich
people are willing to pay for higher price for fruit, as we see the cases in the japan fruit market. However, saying is always easier
doing is always harder.In order to achieve such result, require preseverance, innovotion and different farming techiques. Sorry if I
were sound abit challenging as I understand you are expert in coco nut industry.
My view is small coconut plantation required survive required different technique/seeding to product better coconut plantation, in
order to stay pro table.
Thank you!
Unknown 16 March 2019 at 03:52
Hello Michael,
I am Abdulai and I am living is West Africa in Sierra Leone. I have 452.5 hectares of land that I have started mixed tree cropping in.
Reading your advices, have motivated me to do cocoanut farming in 400hectares.
Can you nd me an investor that can come and join me in developing it?
I will be grateful.
This is my Email: bbbangura.abb@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +23276 334933
REPLY
Ks Tan 1 June 2016 at 09:31
Good day, mike!! thanks for all the info and nally can see some 1 writes about coconut planting other than oil palm / durian :D..
if i were to lease some 5 hectares for coconut planting would it be still pro table and any idea what could be the land lease price? is there
anything like a market value for such kind of crop usage land lease??
REPLY
Michael J. 1 June 2016 at 18:27
Good day KS Tan,
There is no straight-forward answer for your question, as highlighted in my previous comments.
IF, the coconut farm is managed well, the market for tender nuts are secured with a good price structure (whether wholesale unprocessed or
semi-processed), the yield performance is stable, and your overheads a managed properly, then yes, it is very possible for a 5 hectare coconut
plantation to be pro table. Of course, what constitutes as "pro table" is also subjective, as the amount of work needed to earn that "pro t"
must commensurate with expectations, i.e. RM3,500 monthly nett returns does not seem as "pro table" for some if it involves laboring 6-7
hours a day under the hot and humid conditions of a plantation.
Private land lease prices will vary according to location and condition of the land. In some kampung areas of Terengganu for instance, you can
get monthly lease rates of a few hundred ringgit a month per acre; in Selangor, the rates are often ranging around a few thousand ringgit per
month. And no, the land lease does not depend on what kind of crop you will be cultivating. Landlords typically lease out the land on a "as is"
basis, and may stipulate that no permanent structures can be built on said land.
If you are adamant to lease land for coconut cultivation, I would suggest that you deal directly with the state government / DOA / Jabatan
Tanah & Galian / exco etc. instead. If you go that route, the land lease is typically very very cheap, but the land leased to you will be quite
sizeable. There is often a clause in the land lease agreement where the investor (a.k.a. you) has to carry out some level of development in
order for the lease agreement to be maintained. As I understand it, there are typically two types of agreement, one which is on a three-year
xed term contract (but usually only applicable to land where the government has already carried out some development, eg. access road,
lighting etc.), and long-lease contracts typically up to 20 years period. If you could get ahold of the latter, then your coconut plantation
venture will be secured.
Warm regards,
Michael J.
Sulaiman Mokhtar 29 May 2018 at 21:56
Hi - Can you talk about the pest problems - nematodes in the ground, fungus/bacteria on the trunks/leaves/nuts and insects -
weevil/mites. I provide bio-pesticides (won an award 2016 in Germany for application of bio-pesticides in padi yield). I have been
asked to propose solutions against the above and do not know that much about coconut. Padi I have some knowledge.
And thank you so much - knowledge shared is knowledge doubled. And I'm only too happy to share my 80 page padi research report
that increase yield from 3 tons/ha to 11 tons/ha.
Cheers
REPLY
Mahadai Singh 3 June 2016 at 09:52
where can i purchase the matag seedlings?
Mahadai Singh 3 June 2016 at 09:54
send info to bramha.singh@yahoo.com
REPLY
Gerard CHeong 12 June 2016 at 20:14
Hi Michael & fellow readers,

Gerard here. I would like to know if saline sandy soil suitable for productive Pandan coconut plantation? And also if irrigation and watering of
seawater viable option for productive coconut plantation in the sense of nutrient speaking? If yes, any recommended sequence for seawater
watering?
REPLY
Shiaw Yee Chan 14 August 2016 at 21:24
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the detailed writeup, very informative. Do you provide consultation service for coconut plantation? if yes, pls send reply to
shiawyee.ng@gmail.com
Thanks
REPLY
Unknown 20 September 2016 at 11:30
Hi Michael, can you contact me at kelsensawh@gmail.com.
Thankyou
REPLY
Gary Chow 7 November 2016 at 01:31
Hi Michael, can you contact me at gary383@gmail.com
REPLY
Unknown 12 January 2017 at 20:18
Dear Mr Michael,
My company is keen to venture into coconut planting. Can you contact me at email: ocsebay1@yahoo.com ?
Thank you,
Ong Chin Seng
REPLY
Vilos Engkor 15 February 2017 at 18:59
Hi Michael,
I did some research on Matag seedlings from internet, there are F1 and F2. I want to buy but i don't know how to identify which is matag F1,
which is mawa or pandan, could you help me? I heard there were farmers got cheated.
And, do you know where can we attend for the matag coconut planting course?
Thank you in advance.
Billy Koh
REPLY
Hi Michael,
A very informative write up for beginner, kindly email to sichong@email. com
We need to discuss further.

TRAINEE
Rgds, AGRICULTURIST IN MALAYSIA
Ian Chong
REPLY
sichong@ymail. com
REPLY
Lukshikan 14 May 2017 at 14:39
Please contact me Mr.Micheal J.

Im planning to start a new coconut farm ,i need your help for the selection of the type of plant.
Please email me rlukshikan@gmail.com
REPLY
Unknown 21 May 2017 at 20:47
hi Micheal,
My company is planning to venture into coconut plantation business for a parcel of 300 acres land, do you provide consultant service? If yes,
please contact me at leeveejean@gmail.com thanks
REPLY
Active X 22 June 2017 at 19:00
Hi Micheal J,
I am a Civil Eng. PE and want to get into farming - its retirement time. BUT I know nothing of farming and want to go all organic and
clean......how to do it? You can email me too.
REPLY
Bhushan Satam 25 October 2017 at 23:54
Nice for your write-up I am working professional from india in singapore, and looking to set-up coconut plantation in my hometown, you
article is to the point.
REPLY
Unknown 12 November 2017 at 05:51
Hi Michael, can you contact me at tzetien84@gmail.com.
Thankyou
REPLY
blizzard cool 16 December 2017 at 09:54
Can u pls email me cool89231@gmail.com.i nid your help if u domt mind sharing.
REPLY
C.K. Low 24 December 2017 at 17:45
Hi, Michael I would like to ask more info related with agriculture in Malaysia. Could you drop me an email envinetsolutions@gmail.com
REPLY
Ramanathan 27 December 2017 at 16:41
Hi Michael,
Great post. Thank you. I'm a city dweller with no agricultural know-how or aspirations. Your post helped me appreciate coconuts and the
risks farmers have to take so that I can enjoy them. I wonder if you could help me understand why some of the old, tall coconut palms are
tilted (i.e. not vertical. Is it due to soil erosion? Disease? Wind?
REPLY
Sahar Ahmad 3 January 2018 at 22:39
Hi Micheal,
Is there any company selling Tacunan dwarft seeds in Malaysia?..or how do we import it from the philippines? is there any company/farm in
Philippines that you would recommend if we want to visit the farm
REPLY
Bryan 2 April 2018 at 07:27
Hi Micheal,
Thanks for sharing the post. My friend and I planning to start a new coconut farm. Could you drop me an email ttneoh123@gmail.com
REPLY
Dr. Jai 12 April 2018 at 21:19
Hi Micheal,
Thank you very much for the detailed info you have provided. We have a small area of land planted with Oil Palm (30 acres). Our major issue is
Ganoderma (Basal Stem Rot) disease which affects nearly 60% of our Oil Palm. I was told that BSR disease would not affect Coconut trees.
Q1. How true is it?
Another major problem is monkeys (macaques) at our land.
Q2. Will it damage the coconuts?
Q3. If so, what is the best option to prevent this?
Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

Jai.
REPLY
Oswald Chee 16 April 2018 at 00:25
Dear Micheal,
I am planning to establish a large scale coconut plantation. I would like to get in touch you and my email address is cheeoswald@gmail.com
Thank you.
Chee
REPLY
Agtools Seo 25 April 2018 at 03:43
Nice blog..! I really loved reading through this article. Thanks for sharing such a amazing post with us and keep blogging...
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REPLY
javarappa shivakumar 20 May 2018 at 06:38
Hai, Thanks for the lot of Information, I am from india, Karnataka State, i want to know Dwarf variety is it suitable for the south indian climate
with the Bore Well water. If so, what will the cost will incured to reach Bangalore. Pl. reply to email id is jayakumar1292@rediffmail.com
REPLY
Simon Chang 20 May 2018 at 20:40
Dear Micheal,
We are planning to establish a 40 Ha pandan coconut plantation in Telaga Air, Kuching. DOA has done soil investigation and I would like to get
in touch you for consultancy and my email address is scsmoon@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Regards
Simon
REPLY
Cy P 29 May 2018 at 06:48
hi I was wondering where to purchase coconut seeds meant for plantation in Malaysia.
0178571893 - Roy
REPLY
Agtools 20 June 2018 at 23:39
Useful Information, your blog is sharing unique information....

Thanks for sharing!!!
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Unknown 5 July 2018 at 20:44
What do you think about pentagon planting of 5 palms together for higher yield and density, as described here:
http://www.agricultureinformation.com/mr-m-k-renukarya-new-planting-method-improve-coconut-yield/
REPLY
Agriculture Tools 3 October 2018 at 05:14
Thank you for your post. This is excellent information. It is amazing and wonderful to visit your site.
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REPLY
Agriculture Tools 8 October 2018 at 05:55
Thank you for your post. This is excellent information. It is amazing and wonderful to visit your site.
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REPLY
nashath 5 February 2019 at 01:49
hi I'm from maldives can these methods applicable for Maldives environment.
REPLY
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6/3/2019 The Basics of Starting a New Coconut Plantation

TRAINEE AGRICULTURIST IN MALAYSIA

TRAINEE AGRICULTURIST IN MALAYSIA

December 30, 2015