Moving the coconut industry forward…
DIRECTOR of the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Dr Oudho Homenauth, on Monday said a short to medium term action plan has been submitted to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to take the coconut industry forward.

Homenauth offered the comment to the Guyana Chronicle but declined to outline the measures contained in the action plan, pointing out the documentation is awaiting the approval of the minister.

At a recent meeting convened at the Ministry of Agriculture, it was noted that stakeholders have a vital role to play in the revival of the industry.

During the meeting, the need to improve drainage and irrigation, resuscitate abandon estates, planting of high-yielding variety nuts and the development of new technology were some of the recommendations put forward by stakeholders to transform the industry.

The industry, in terms of acreage of land allocated for cultivation, ranks third in the country, behind rice and sugar.

Homenauth, at that forum, said the industry is a huge avenue for investment, but stakeholders have to step up to the plate.

Under the current Agriculture Diversification Project (ADP) and the Rural Enterprise Agriculture Development (READ) programme, new opportunities have opened-up for non-traditional agriculture, including for a full revitalisation of the coconut business.

In 2008, coconut export more than doubled the amount exported in 2005, and export so far for this year has surpassed the total export last year.

Guyana has been exporting coconuts to the Dominican Republic among other islands in the Caribbean, and is looking to tap into the demands of the North American market.

Persaud observed that the foreign demand for the commodity has even affected adequate availability for local consumption.

NARI has been tasked with reviving the industry and the Hope Estate on the lower East Coast Demerara will once again be resuscitated.

The minister also announced that very soon two nurseries will be constructed on the estate to produce top variety plants.

Guyana is looking to India and other countries with well developed coconut industries to solicit their expertise to assist in the realisation of its endeavour.

Coconut plantations, including those abandoned, account for some 23,000 acres of lands here, and a full restoration of the industry will open-up value-added enterprises, thereby creating more jobs.