THE governmental authorities are acutely aware of the dangers of the Resource Curse or the Dutch Disease, which could easily afflict new oil-producing countries like Guyana and are taking measures to guard against it by developing traditional, as well as new sectors of the economy. These will be sustained and continue to grow long after oil resources have diminished or have been exhausted. Agriculture has historically been the main industry of Guyana and accordingly, focus is directed toward developing this industry.

As an income-generating entity, the coconut industry was introduced by indentured Indian immigrants in the same way as the rice industry. Coconuts were widely used in various forms, for example, in chokes, metemgee, cookies, biscuits, various confections, and coconut milk. They were used by ordinary folks to produce the oil they required for cooking and other purposes and industrially, to produce refined cooking oil that met the local market’s needs with some exported to the Caribbean. The main companies which produced refined coconut oil were Wieting and Richter and Resaul Maraj and Co.

In the 1970s, Guyana experienced an economic depression which led to the collapse of the economy and the emigration of a large percentage of the population and the coconut industry was ruined. The industrial oil producers closed their doors, the coconut estates became neglected, and the cooking oil needs were barely met by home production. When the economy was revived several years later, foreign imported oils had completely replaced local oil.

In the last two years, the Ministry was fortunate to have Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha as Minister of Agriculture and with great proactivity and creativity, he embarked upon the beginnings of an agricultural revolution. New methodologies were introduced, former crops like rice had greater production and sugar began a revival. Large scale training was undertaken and new crops like millet, wheat, corn, and soya were introduced. Fish farms were started and livestock was enhanced with the introduction of improved breeds. The coconut industry early engaged Minister Mustapha’s attention. Even though the industry has become fairly prosperous, it still has not satisfied local demand.

The industry has a five-year development plan to be executed under the auspices of NAREI which enjoys the support of the Caribbean Agricultural and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Agriculture Sector Development Unit of the Ministry, which has the cooperation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). At present, there are 2000 coconut farmers and it was expected to increase acreage by 1000 acres per year, but this figure has been revised and would be three or four times more. Efforts are being made to improve the industry’s seed stock and 2000 Brazilian Dwarf Coconut seedlings have been acquired from the Brazilian Scientific Seed Nut Institute (COHIBRA) and will be tested and observed by NAREI at plots at NAREI and Hope Coconut Industries Limited. This Brazilian variety is superior to Guyana’s traditional variety in that its water volume is 750 ml as against 500 ml for the local variety and is better suited for oil and copra production. In addition to Brazil, Government is making efforts to source other suitable varieties from Mexico and some of the countries of Asia.

Coconut Oil production has been increasing, especially in the Pomeroon area and a good quality exportable product is available at a competitive price. Indeed, over the last several years, the reputation of coconut oil as a healthy and desirable oil has grown exponentially and it is often bracketed in the league with olive oil. It has the prospect of a profitable export market.

The coconut plant has a large number of uses and the technologies to exploit that are not expensive. For example, in Asia, coconuts are used to produce a very popular slightly alcoholic drink known as toddy and the Ministry has already acquired a coconut fibre machine and is now producing coconut fibre which normally went to waste. Such fibre could be used in upholstery, pot scrubbers and in plant nurseries. Coconut production is now being dovetailed into the Caribbean Food self sufficiency plan.