Coconut palms of Samoa: Development of new handicraft using the Niu afa coconut variety

By Roland Bourdeix, Malua Solinuu. Valerie Saena Tuia and Alofa Leuluaialii

This website returns the information collected during four scientific visits conducted in 2001, 2010, 2012 and 2017 on behalf the Ministry of Agriculture of Samoa, the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network, the Secretatiat of the South Pacific Community, the Global Crop Diversity Trust, Bioversity International, CIRAD (French Centre for Agricultural Research and Development), the Coconut Industry Development for the Pacific (CIDP project) and the Darwin Initiative "Saving Pacific Coconuts".

Development of new handicraft using the Niu afa coconut variety

We meet a group of wood carvers in Apia on 24 November 2017. We had a first discussion with them in order to suggest to develop new handicraft using Niu afa coconut. Names and contact are : Jese Alaiasa ; Milo Taunaola ; lalomilo1998@hotmail.com

Niu Afa is the largest coconut in the world, and was traditionnaly bred by Samoan elders, so this is a pure product "Made in Samoa " and it should be highly marketable to tourists who want to bring back authentic and unique memories of their trip.