THE ENDANGERED KOLANUT IN NIGERIAby Alesandra Ibobo | 31-05-2018 21:45 |
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2.jpg) 2.jpg) 1.jpg) Kolanut is the fruit of the kola tree which is generally found in the tropical rainforest of Africa. The kolanut is sweet and rose- like though takes bitter at first but is sweetens upon chewing. The kola but is predominantly in the West African region particularly Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Popularly known as goro amongst Hausa speaking natives in Nigeria the kola but has been in the cultural and religious origin of Nigeria where it is used for opening ceremonies like weddings, namings, gatherings and for praying to ancestors, kolanuts are also used as offerings in the Eastern part of Nigeria and as one of the key items bought for traditional marriage here in Nigeria. The kola but is described as a symbol of life as it is one of the key items presented in celebrations throughout an individuals lifetime. It is endangered particularly in Cameroon, cote d'ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Uganda. The kola tree has a long history with herbal use as its shrub, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits are used in producing herbal mixtures and drinks to cure ailments like diaharea, skin infection, urinary tract infection etc The kola but has been harvested for the numerous health benefits it proposes as it aids digestion, decreases the risks of prostrate cancer and recommended for treatment of asthma and migraines. Most pharmaceutical companies uses kolanut extracts which is caffaine to produce synthetic drugs for the cure of these ailments and more. The kola but is in high demand in the United states and Europe as the kola extract is commonly used as flavouring, because it contains caffaine, kolamin and theobromine, its produce are a main component in manufacturing beverages like the coca cola, Pepsi cola and other energy drinks. This has made countries like Nigeria export more of their harvests to these countries in the Europe and US without measures to replant having known the tree takes a very long time to mature and bear fruits. Kola but is an important cash crop which is boosting Nigeria's economy and Nigeria accounts for about 70 percent of the total world production of kola nut, however recent study has shown that the demand for kola but in Nigeria is higher than the production as kola but farmers within the country lacks expertise on how to properly farm this product and there are no plans for continuity of producing kola but as most of the trees are unfruitful due to old age, storage pests and diseases.
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