There are two common types of kolanut in Nigeria: Cola nitida (Gbanja ‘Goro’) and cola acuminate (obi abata). Kola is a plant of hot tropical low land forest, with a rainfall extending over a period of eight months or more and a temperature of between 230c and 280c.

It is an evergreen plant that grows to a height of about 4.5 metres to 18 metres or more. The crop needs deep and well drained soil and thrives in sheltered valleys on the fringes of forest relics, where such soils rich in humus occour.

Nigeria now produces 88 percent of the world’s cola nitida crop and of this total, 90 percent is consumed within the country mainly in the kola chewing areas of the northern states. It is eaten in a fresh state for its stimulating effect, while 10 percent only is exported. There exists wide export market for it because it has a lot of users. Kola can be processed into beverage, kola powder, and can also be used to produce various drugs and body creams. However, the production level is still very low in Nigeria, and there are a lot of potential in kolanut production.

Propagation
Kola is generally propagated from seeds sown at stake or peregrinated in seed boxes or on beds; budding and grafting can also be done if good varieties are available. Kolanut starts to bear fruits from the fourth year of field planting.
Kola nitida is harvested between November and December yearly, while kola acuminate is harvested between April and June.

An average kolanut tree can produce about 200 nuts on yearly basis. Kola nitida sells on the average of N10 per nut, while kola acuminata sells on the average N50 per nut. You can have on the average 400 stands of kolanut in one hectare of land.

In this regard, one hectare of kola nitida can give the owners about N800,000 per annum, while kola acuminate can give the owners about N4 million per hectare on annual basis. Kolanuts are grown mostly in the western part of Nigeria, specifically in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states. You have some also in Edo and Kwara states.

Curing and preservation
One of the most important factors of preparatory to kola processing after harvesting and shelling is skinning of the nuts, while they are in fresh state. To achieve this, the nuts are either heaped in a basket or left on bare ground, but moistened occasionally, for about four to five days, they may also be soaked in water for 18-24 hours, or buried in ground.

The cured nuts are stored in large baskets, lined and covered with a thick layer of partially dried plantain or banana leaves from which the midrib has been removed and used. Cured nuts may be preserved for 12 months or more, using this method.

Local sources of kolanuts in Nigeria
As earlier said, kolanuts are mainly grown in the western part of Nigeria, and the major towns kolanuts can be found in large quantities are Ibadan (Shasha and Oje markets), Ile-Ife (Sabo Market), Ondo (the major market), Ilesa (Sabo and Atakunmosa markets), Ogbese in Ondo State, Owena (Osun State), Ikirun (Osun State), Owo (Ondo State), Ado Ekiti (major market), Aramoko Ekiti, Efon Alaye, (Ekiti State), Ikole Ekiti, Ilawe (Ekiti State), Faforiji (Osun State in Atakumosa East), Garage Olode (Ife East in Osun State, Ore (Ondo State), Benin, Auchi (Edo State), Ipele (Ekiti State), Ikirun (Osun State), Ijebu Jesa (Osun State), Esa Oke (Osun State), Odo-Ijesa (Osun Stae), Iperindo (Osun State), and Ise Ijesa (Osun State).

To source for the kolanut, the market days for the above towns and villages are identified and prospective buyers will go to the kolanut section to buy the quantity and quality they require. The average price for a kilogramme of cola nitida is N500, while that of cola acuminate is N2,500.

Export market
The major markets for kolanut are in India and China, where they are usually used for a lot of things like stimulants (drugs and beverages) and also for body creams. They can also be processed into powder for various uses. Oil can also be extracted from it, which also has a lot of applications.

The export price for cola nitida is about $17 per kilogramme, this translates to about N2, 700 per kilogramme. So, one can make a lot of money from the export of nitida.
www.netprowealth.com