AS demand for coconut grows on the world market, Compton Paul, coordinator of a regional coconut programme at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), in the Independent online news (10th September 2016), delivered a spot of news that the Caribbean is running out of this fruit.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that, since 1994, Caribbean plantations have shrunk by 17 per cent. Some contributing factors for this decline are weather conditions, diseases that wiped out farms, lack of investment in planting new trees and providing fertilisation to improve yields, earlier shift in consumer preference; and in Guyana’s case, a little bit of politics.
In the presence of global news that the price for coconut oil has jumped by more than 50 percent in the last year, the human aspect of “what if” would be a point of consideration. In our historically divisive political environment, efforts by the Forbes Burnham government to push food self-sufficiency were met with some resistance on the pretext that it constituted punishing the people and instituting poverty.
With de-emphasis on production and with a lack of markets, estates that weren’t abandoned or attacked by pesticides either became forested or suffered from lack of investment.
The coconut and its plant have been used by us for many purposes. The kernel or ‘meat’ has been used for making milk, edible oil, sugar cake; the water has been used as a beverage; the branches make brooms; the husk/fibre makes mattress fillers; the milk of the coconut is a major ingredient in foods such as cook-up and metem-gee, etc.
Today coconut husk is used to fill car seats and make mats (domestic and motor vehicle). The coconut has also found its way into toiletries and cosmetics, as in shampoo, skin lotion, bath soap, lip balm, body wash, etc.
bbcgoodfood.com says, “Coconuts are highly nutritious and rich in fibre, vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6, and minerals including iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Unlike cow’s milk, coconut milk is lactose free, so can be used as a milk substitute by those with lactose intolerance.”
This Jo Lewin’s article ‘The health benefits of…coconut milk’ goes on to say that while the fruit “contains significant amounts of fat…(it) provides fat that is mostly in the form of medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs), in particular one called lauric acid, [which] is converted in the body into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, an antiviral and antibacterial that destroys a wide variety of disease causing organisms. It is therefore now thought that consumption of coconut milk may help protect the body from infections and viruses.”
With increasing appreciation for diverse dishes, and growing shift to food preferences which favour what the Caribbean offers, the uses and value of the taken-for-granted coconut are catching fire in North America and European regions. For instance, the coconut flakes (grated) are used as toppings on cakes; the milk is used in smoothies, coffee and liqueur.
For years, it has been said that Guyana has the potential to be the Food Basket of the Caribbean. In the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana holds the lead position on agriculture. And where CARDI in the past has seen the Jagdeo administration not honouring Guyana’s financial obligations, it is hoped that the APNU+AFC administration corrects this delinquency.
Development can never happen in the absence of investing in institutions to make them function effectively, including in the agricultural sector, which needs resources for technical assistance such as research, development and outreach. The absence of continuous and necessary research has caught Guyana unaware of available opportunities in the coconut industry, and the benefits to be derived therefrom.
Needed and necessary leadership of Government in the industry could have seen Guyana today holding competitive advantage in the international market, earning significant revenue, creating employment and economic opportunities, and reducing the country’s poverty level.
As global interest in this fruit and its by-product develops, it is hoped that the Ministry of Agriculture, under the leadership of the Hon. Minister Noel Holder, not only take note, but put in place mechanism for resuscitation of this industry, with the aim of Guyana taking up a sizable market share.
Technavio.com (23 Sept 2015) reports that “The coconut water market is expected to generate revenue worth US $4 billion between 2015 and 2019, thanks to the increasing sales of natural drinks among health-conscious consumers.” Such taste in a world becoming increasingly health conscious is likely to remain and increase. We must be able to partake in this market, given our developmental thrust on Sustainable Development.
Already, Guyanese such as Mr. and Mrs. Da Silva from the Pomeroon have entered the international market selling bottled coconut water, and have indicated that the ability to meet market demand is inadequate. What this suggests is that in addition to needed government support, proper research and development, abandoned coconut estates need to be resuscitated, and planting needs to be increased.
