Pomeroon coconut farmer targets local market
An aerial view of DeSilva’s coconut plantation at Marlborough, Lower Pomeroon
An aerial view of DeSilva’s coconut plantation at Marlborough, Lower Pomeroon

– plans to convert 50-acre plot into agri- tourism site

SHE fondly referred to her product as “nature in a bottle” and she foresees a good future for Guyana’s coconut industry, but one of her biggest aims is to convert 50 acres of land into an agriculture-tourism destination.

An aerial view of DeSilva’s farm where the processing of her products takes place

Such are the plans of farmer Vilma DeSilva. She is investing in training and educating her children and grandchildren to manage her farm, an exercise which is already in high gear.
De Silva, a trail blazer in the coconut industry, is currently pushing her “Henvil Farms” brand of coconut water on the local market. The product , which she pointed out has no preservatives , is being sold in various units including the two litres, one litre, 500 milliliters and more recently, the 25 milliliters units, the latter of which is primarily bottled for schools.

Known for being one of the only large-scale coconut farmers in the country, DeSilva told this publication that for the past 38 years, she has been a farmer, a profession she embraced soon after marriage.

DeSilva started out selling coconut water some eight years ago, as she foresaw a window of opportunity for adding more value to her 40 acre coconut farm at Marlborough in the Pomeroon.

“The response was good and we harvest at a special time during the month. We always have coconut and we harvest when they grow for eight to nine months,” she said.
Initially, she marketed her bottled coconut water in Trinidad and Tobago but because of challenges with foreign exchange, she decided to put a hold on export.

She made the decision to target the local market since according to her, “Guyanese are becoming more health conscious.”

As regards the market outlook, DeSilva noted that things on the local market are looking up.

“I can see a lot of positives that will work out,” she said.
As she spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, her staff was preparing 200 bottles of coconut water for football teams participating at an event in the Pomeroon. But her business is not only about coconut water.

COCONUT OIL
Five years ago, DeSilva was introduced to an overseas-based Guyanese, who later visited her farm and told her about the benefits of virgin coconut oil, especially its health benefits.
“So after that meeting, that is how I ventured into producing coconut oil,” she said.
As is the case with her coconut water business, she receives orders for her products both locally and overseas; a Bahamian company recently ordered 10 pales of coconut oil and that is being prepared for shipping, DeSilva said.

She said her business has provided employment for 24 persons and another 15 persons are employed temporarily whenever she receives large orders. She said the family has even converted its own in-house plan into fruition.

Her grandson, she said, will take over the business as the Chief Executive Officer and a management training course is in the making to this effect.

AGRI-TOURISM

Pomeroon farmer, Vilma DeSilva and a child sample Henvil Farms-branded coconut water

Possibly her biggest dream is in the making – investment in agriculture tourism. DeSilva noted that an additional 50 acres of land is already set aside for this purpose. DeSilva said that not only is coconut going to be on that farm, but also citrus, mangoes and avocado trees.

“It has great potential, people already come to our farm for walks and their reaction alone can give you that feeling that it will work,” she said in positive tones, adding: “I am already seeing it, where persons come and we guide them along the routes on the farm and we have can have a system where they eat or fill their baskets. All the nice fruits that Guyana has will be there. What we are focusing on is that the customer must get value and quality stuff.”

DeSilva, who has been pushing the buy-local initiative and has been on the board of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation for some 13 years, believes that the future of the country lies in agriculture. “Guyana is my passion,” she said with a grin.
Besides rice and sugar, coconut is the third largest export crop in Guyana and government said it is working to move the industry forward. Coconut is often referred to as the new gold.

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