Nypa Palm, Alternative Source Of Energy

Amidst growing quest for an alternative source of energy in the rural areas, a non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI), has called for the use of dried nypa palm.

The Project Director of CIDI, Mr Raphael Ogali stated this yesterday in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.

Ogali, who spoke extensively on the uses of what he termed “the rejected plant”, noted that “often times when people see the nypa palm, what comes to their mind is a dangerous plant to boats plying the Niger Delta region.

“This is because the plant is usually found as a sea hyacinth and is capable of constituting danger to boats. But beyond this threat, the nypa palm has so much economic uses, but only a few rural dwellers are aware of  it.”

According to him, in Nigeria immigrant fishermen use the plant as roof and walls in their huts, while in Asia, nypa is used for their production of sugar, vinegar wine, thatching, hats, baskets, fanciful bags, mats, cigarettes, wrapper, beverages and medicine.

He added that it has also been found useful as alternative to firewood for cooking and drying of fish.

The CIDI Project Director explained further that the emergence of the body was necessitated by the growing feeling of the devastating effect of the nypa palm in the Niger Delta and the need to come up with a means of checking its effect.

“The primary objective of CIDI is, therefore, to mobilise the rural populace to protest the Niger Delta environment against the devastating effects of nypa palm, create awareness on the economic use of the plant, and check further encroachment into the mangroves ecosystem.”

On his part, the Field Project Manager of CIDI, Mr Daniel Akpan, said among other achievements, the body has “succeeded in creating awareness on the relative importance and economic value of nypa palm.