(a) Identify the fruit illustrated by the diagram below
(b) Name the parts labelled A to D.
(c) Outline briefly the processes or stages involved in the cultivation of the fruít illustrated in the diagram.
Explanation
(a) The fruit is Coconut fruit / Oil palm fruit.
(b) Parts labelled A - D are:
- Á -Epicarp / Exocarp;
- B- Mesocarp / husk;
- C- Endocarp/shell;
- D - Kernel / coconut kernel / Endosperm /seed:
(c)(i) Stages of cultivation / Steps of production for Coconut fruit are:
- Plant coconut fruits in nursery at a spacing of 30 -60 cm x 30 -60cm,
- water and weed regularly,
- prepare the land through cleaning, burning, and stumping.
- Dig planting holes infield at 8m x 8m spacing and transplant the seedlings.
- Add fertilizer/ manure for good growth, weed, water, and control pests and disease when necessary. OR
(ii) Stages of cultivation for oil palm fruit are;
- pre-germination of kernels in seedbox and planting pre-germinated seedlings in the nursery.
- Water and weed regularly as required.
- Land preparation, clearing, burning, stumping.
- Digging holes at 9m x 9m spacing.
- Transplanting of seedlings.
- Add manure / fertilizer for good growth.
- weed when necessary.
- water when necessary.
- control pests and diseases when necessary
(d) Industrial uses of Coconut or oil palm fruit.
Coconut fruit;
- husk used in manufacture of foot mats / brushes.
- cake for livestock feeding.
- shell Used for fuel.
- copra used in manufacture of coconut oil.
- oil used in making creams/ soap/ margarine.
- coconut milk used for alcohol production.
- Biscuits.
Oil palm fruit;
- Husk used for fuel.
- Oil used for soup/margarine / cosmetics.
- Shell used for fuel.
- cake used for livestock feed.
- oil used for candle production.
- kernel used for production of palm kernel oil.