Stakeholders discuss revitalisation of coconut industry for export
APPROXIMATELY 24,000 hectares are currently cultivated with coconut trees in Guyana and they produce about 92 million nuts annually, mostly in Regions One (Barima/Waini), Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Four (Demerara/Mahaica) Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
But many of the trees are untended and entire estates uncared for, in many cases abandoned and despite a movement towards revival, in the past two years, a once thriving industry is still trailing behind its true potential.
Yesterday, however, stakeholders met at the Ministry of Agriculture, on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown and discussed a report on ways of revitalising the industry and, more particularly, developing its capability of producing coconut water for local consumption and export.
The compilation is based on a feasibility study, done by Mr. Oswald Quamina, a local agricultural economist, with funding from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (UNFAO).
The findings support local efforts to revive the enterprise for the production, especially, of bottled coconut water.
The compendium said, among other findings, that bottled coconut water is a growing business, with Jamaica emerging as a leader in it. That country is already exporting the product to the United States (U.S.) and Canada, under such brand names as ‘Portland Splash Coconut Water’, ‘Spring Garden’ and ‘Mello Fello’.
Yesterday’s discussion was declared open by Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, who said Government recognises the tremendous potential of the industry and has taken steps to restructure it and see how it could become more vibrant and, in the long run, even globally competitive.
He said Government interventions included the engagement of an Indian expert on attachment to the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), the resurrection of a nursery at Hope Estate, East Coast Demerara and the provision of assistance to coconut farmers through the related agencies.
Persaud said the goal of his ministry is to revitalise the estates and then put in place a well structured local industry.
Among those at the workshop were agriculture officers from the Ministry, new Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and NARI, as well as prominent coconut estate owners from Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.
Quamina said the feasibility survey on the development of a coconut water processing plant and the results of the discussions yesterday are to be presented to the FAO for consideration and assistance to the industry.