— festival puts spotlight on country’s main non-traditional crop

With activities beginning on the first ever coconut festival to be held here, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder believes that the festival is a “great opportunity to boost promotion of the coconut industry”.Globally, the value of and uses for coconut is on the rise and this is no different in Guyana as the country’s main non-traditional crop is being heavily marketed.

The rising potential of the industry has also resulted in the Ministry of Agriculture contributing over $5M to the Coconut Festival which was recently held at Charity, Essequibo Coast.

Speaking at the opening of a river parade and exhibition at the festival, the Minister of Agriculture reminded farmers that coconut is ranked number three after rice and sugar in relation to acreage cultivated and generates US$4.6M annually.

“Coconuts are the main crop coming out of the Pomeroon region, with farmers cultivating over five varieties of this diverse crop. The National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is working to increase coconut productivity and production potential through rehabilitation and expansion of Guyana’s coconut production base,” the minister stated.

He noted too that NAREI is continuing its advocacy for good agronomic practices, effective pest and disease management and better access to planting materials.
The Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the Ministry of Business, the Department of Tourism and the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for the Coconut Festival.

Minister Holder urged those gathered to reclaim the title “Bread Basket of the Caribbean” while stressing that Guyana has started to and will persist in increasing agricultural production and exports.

And in this, he said, coconuts play an increasingly important role.
The parade and exhibition which forms part of the Coconut Festival was hosted by the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce at the Charity Market Square. It saw many organisations, comprising mostly agro-processors and patrons participating.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) continues to collaborate with processors to further develop value-added products from coconuts, while strengthening the value chain for products to facilitate linkages that will increase market demand.

Essequibo Chamber of Commerce President Deleep Singh said the hidden potential of the industry is gradually unfolding.

“As president of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for the past six months, I have issued the call for this industry to be put to the front burner in the development strategy for the country.”

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said the event was “historic” and stressed that the coconut industry is one of the most important in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region.

“… I am sure that you all will agree that many more activities that can benefit the region is needed,” he stated.

The Ministry of Agriculture was a prominent feature at the exhibition demonstrating the linkages of sister agencies to the coconut industry.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) had on display the correlation between coconut products and dishes and rice while the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) provided information relative to proper and enhanced drainage and irrigation when cultivating coconuts.

Additionally, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) displayed an array of products made from coconuts that were produced by the school while the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), being the main facilitator of agro-processing in Guyana, sold a number of local coconut by-products.

Other activities for the Guyana Coconut Festival are slated for October 21 to 23 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.