TWO Mexican specialists who conducted the first in a series of training programmes in coconut production in Guyana last weekend, have endorsed the resurgence of the coconut industry in global commerce and in support of domestic economies.The duo were Ms. Matilde Cortazar Rios and Mr. Irving Manuel Fuentes Del Angel, both of the Mexican National Institute of Research on Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP).
The training programmes for local farmers are being held under a bilateral agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Mexico with support from the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Specialist and spokeswoman Ms. Rios said that the coconut industry in Mexico and worldwide and had gone into decline during the eighties and the nineties due to disease and misinformation, but was now enjoying a revival in demand for its many products.
“Plants were lost due to diseases such as lethal yellowing, but over the past fifteen years there has been a revival of the industry due to intensified support from the Mexican Government, and this is now helping in the development of people especially those in rural areas.”
She said that her government is helping farmers to renew their plantations with the trees which produce much more nuts than the older varieties.
Her government is also encouraging farmers to plant other crops among the trees so that they can earn more.
She said that the main product in Mexico now is copra but the country is placing more emphasis on production of coconut water which is more profitable than copra.
Her country is also diversifying into other coconut products such as fibre coals, coconut milks, shredded coconuts and other by-products of the coconut palm.
The first training programme was held at the Headquarters of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
The training aims at equipping coconut farmers to revitalize the industry and move it towards its full potential.
Rios said that the increased worldwide demand provided opportunities which are being seized by Mexico but Guyana can also benefit extensively from it especially the craze for coconut water.
She said that herself and colleague intend to teach Guyanese the techniques of farming hybrid coconuts.
The hybrids are generally of a shorter or dwarf variety, an attribute which can reduce the difficulties encountered in harvesting coconuts from tall trees.
The hybrids exhibit greater resistance to some viral diseases such as lethal yellowing.
Rios said that the adoption of hybrids locally is important since there are signs that lethal yellowing which can kill coconut plants within six months can spread in South America.
There is no known cure for this disease.
Additionally the older varieties or tall trees, tend to produce after six to ten years but some of the hybrids targeted for Guyana, start to produce fruit as early as three years into their growth which, for the coconut farmer, means a faster return on investment.