Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

82 Kokoye
Figure 10.6 A typical agricultural landscape
in southwestern Haiti, showing the four most
useful palms in Haiti - C. nucifera, R. borinquena,
Sabal causiarum and Coccothrinax
argentea.
Male and female flowers occur
on the same panicle, with the female
flowers maturing later in the tall varieties
and typically being cross-pollinated
from male flowers of neighboring
palms. Insects are the predominate
pollination vector. Dwarf varieties
normally have female flowers
becoming receptive (about a week)
while the male flowers on the same
inflorescence are maturing. Dwarf
varieties are largely self-pollinated.
Utilization: The most valued product
of the coconut is the fruit, processed
at the household level rather than on
large plantations for industrial purposes.
A major portion of the harvest
is consumed prior to maturity when
the volume of coconut water, or milk,
is greatest and the fleshy meat is the
consistency of jelly (Fig. 10.7). It
takes from 120-160 days for the fruit
to develop to this stage. Otherwise,
the coconut is allowed to ripened,
about 330-360 days, with the meat
being used for cooking and confec­
tioneries. The coconut fat contained in the meat serves as an important ingredient in
many recipes of the Haitian cuisine. Coconut, either shredded, roasted or raw, is used in
popular snacks such as tablet, dous makos (Petit Goave), komparet (Jeremie) and kasav
(Cap-Ha·itien).
The leaves are used as thatch, mostly for temporary structures, and for weaving
mats, baskets, and hats. The wood is used as pilings and posts, being fairly resistant to
decay under moist conditions. In countries where the coconut industry is well developed,
coconut meal is a byproduct of oil extraction and is fed to livestock. The proximate
analysis of various C. nucifera products is summarized in Table 10.1. Coconuts
are an important source of nectar and pollen for bees and honey production, which in
turn, are important in cross pollination.
Propagation: The farmer either plants the fruit directly in the soil or purchases
seedlings when a local crop is not available. Coconuts are harvested carefully for propagation
as many farmers are suspicious ofthe damage that may occur from coconuts left
to drop on the ground. Fruit should be selected from trees with large crops of high-quality
nuts. In most cases, propagation consists of laying the fruit on its side, set apart 30
cm, with the eyes slightly raised. Germination can be improved by burying the seed nuts
three-quarters deep. The sprout emerges through the eye on the side that has the longest