PLANT MAWA AND MATAG COCONUT

COCONUT (Cocos nucifera) are the fourth important crop grown in Malaysia after oil palm rubber and paddy. There are more than 16 coconut varieties registered in National Plant Variety Listing under Department of Agriculture Malaysia. About 76% of coconut planted in Malaysia are Malayan Tall (CN1) and other variety grown are MATAG, Pandan (Aromaric coconut), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD), Malayan Red Dwarf, Tagnanan, Tacunan and few ohers. Currently hybrid MATAG coconut is the most wanted by coconut growers but there is not enough supply of the F1 MATAG hybrid seedling. MATAG is a short form or a nick name of new hybrid coconut which is from original coconut from Malaysia which is Malaysia Yellow Dwarf (MYD) or Malaysia Red Dwarf (MRD) with Tagnanan coconut from Philippine. The height of MATAG coconut can reach up to 15 meter and the leaves can be green or orange depends on the main Malaysia coconut tree. MATAG coconut is the new type of coconut where it can produce approximately up to 40,000 of coconut per hectare each year which is more than the normal coconut or other hybrid coconut tree. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" we go through about MATAG and MAWA coconut potential in Malaysia.

The coconut produced by MATAG coconut tree is suitable for variety of uses such as for coconut water, coconut milk production, and also for grated coconut. If the coconut farm has been organized well and adequate rainfall, MTAG coconut will start to blossom on the third year and it can be harvest on the next year. Besides, MATAG coconut will produce high production of copra in long term duration where one MATAG coconut tree can produce the copra eight times per year. In term of producing the coconut fruit, each of the MATAG coconut tree will have about four to five cluster where each cluster will consists maximum 15 - 17 coconuts. But for the first six years of planting the MATAG coconut tree, it will produce lower quantity of copra which about 12.2kg to 36.4kg for the first year compared to the normal coconut tree which is about 16.4kg - 33kg. MATAG coconut tree will start to produce high quantity of copra on the seventh year which is 42.2kg compared to 34.3kg for normal coconut. The characteristics and also the benefits of MATAG coconut is that this type of coconut will produce high quality of copra were it has thicker plump compared to other hybrid coconut and also normal coconut. The size of the coconut also bigger which it makes the copra thicker and it can increase the production of grated coconut an also coconut milk increase compared to the normal coconut. In addition, the taste of the MATAG coconut also more delicious because the coconut water is sweeter and more rather than normal or other hybrid coconut which make it more suitable for people to drink it.

MAWA coconut is a hybrid coconut between Dwarf Malayan variety and West African Tall and considered among the best nut quality. This Mawa species are planted for their thick flesh and high quality milk. Mawa coconuts are famous to be used in coconut milk and coconut cream manufacturing. Tender Mawa nuts are used for drinking in some occasion even though the size considered a small fruit and not many consumer willing to like this variety. MAWA coconut (CN 3) is a hybrid coconut produced from cross-pollination of Kelapa Rendah Malaya and Kelapa Tinggi West Africa. The height of MAWA coconut trees can reach up to 15 meters. The color of the leaves, flowers and fruits are either pale green or orange depending on the main tree (Malaya Primary Coconut). This variety potential yield 14-16 fruits per bunch an has a thick coconut meat. In other occasion, all small scale coconut planters have been urged to switch from planting the current Malayan Tall (CN1) coconut saplings to the Matag (CN13, CN14, CN15) and Mawa varieties (CN3) for better yields and higher returns. 

Governments has a programme that the smallholders could expect around 14,200 to 14,300 coconuts per hectare from the two varieties. The Malayan Tall can only produce about 1,150 coconuts per hectare.  The Matag and Mawa varieties could yield around 28,000 to 30,000 coconuts over 20 years, and the Malayan Tall only 7,700 to 9,300 coconuts in the same period. There were about 10,000 small-scale coconut planters in the country and the majority were still planting the Malayan Tall saplings. There were about 12,200 hectares of land planted with these coconuts and some of them had been around for more than 40 years. Many of these smallholders had complained that they were just earning about RM350 per hectare from their yield. The planting of the Matag and Mawa varieties as well as another new variety, the sweet Pandan, the coconut planters can expect better yields within five years and better income. 

Thanks.

By,

M Anim Hosnan,

Senior Agronomist,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

June 2020.