Count coconuts in a heap from a photo

Counting coconuts at the collection point or in a heap

Coconuts are bought and sold by the nut, so harvest crews, farm owners and traders all want the same figure when a load comes in from the grove. Climbers and pickers are often paid by the nut or by the tree, which makes a shared, marked photo useful when numbers are disputed. Heaped coconuts hide most of the pile, so spread each load into a single layer on clear ground and photograph it from a raised position, such as the back of a truck.

Tender green coconuts and mature brown or dehusked nuts look nothing alike; mark one of each as examples when a load mixes them. Dehusked nuts are small and round and sit close together, while husked ones with fibers sticking out have ragged edges, so review the dots where nuts touch. Fronds, loose husk fiber and leaves in the frame may pick up stray dots. A truck seen from above shows only its top layer, so count while the load is tipped out rather than while it is still on board.

Name each tally row after the climber, the plot or the truck, and export the CSV for the payment record. Bunches from the banana plants on the same farm can be tallied on the banana bunch counter, and loose fruit in crates fits the fruit counter.