IN alignment with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to bolster the coconut industry, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture, continues its efforts to supply farmers with high-yielding coconut seed nuts. This initiative aims to encourage farmer engagement and increase production within the sector.
During a recent visit to the nursery in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region, Mr. Ricky Roopchand, Managing Director of Hope Coconut Industry, shared the progress and challenges faced in transporting seed nuts to Region Nine. Despite inclement weather making it difficult to transport 3,000 green dwarf coconuts via truck, the team successfully delivered 1,500 seed nuts to the nursery using a bus.
“The Region Nine nursery has a capacity to hold 3,000 seed nuts per batch, which makes it 12,000 per year. However, due to the inclement weather, it is difficult to get a truck to go up there and take all 3,000 at once, so we sent up 1,500 by bus,” Mr. Roopchand explained. He also noted that the remaining nursery capacity will be filled with the Philippine green variety from Costa Rica, expected to arrive by July 15.
Praising the dedication of Region Nine farmers, Mr. Roopchand acknowledged the nursery’s current limitations. “The farmers are showing tremendous interest, but the demand exceeds the nursery’s capacity. We need to expand the nursery or decentralise it further in the region to meet this demand,” he stated.
In collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), a proposal is being developed to enhance the production of coffee, cocoa, and coconuts throughout Region Nine. “Through President Ali and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, we are working on a proposal to produce coffee, cocoa, and coconuts in all of Region Nine. Depending on the suitability of the crop, we will work with farmers to ensure regional development,” Mr. Roopchand added.
Meanwhile, the Mabaruma coconut nursery in Region One is fully stocked with 3,000 Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts to meet the needs of local farmers. Additionally, a significant shipment of 63,000 seed nuts—13,000 from Brazil and 50,000 from Costa Rica—will soon arrive to further support the industry.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, during his visit to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), highlighted the government’s commitment to revitalising the coconut industry. “Coconut has tremendous value globally, and we have the opportunity to supply Caribbean countries with our products,” he said.
The minister emphasised that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to reduce Guyana’s food importation expenses. He also pointed out the superior qualities of the new Brazilian green dwarf coconuts, which offer higher yields and better quality. “These imported coconuts produce 700 to 750 millilitres of water, compared to the 300 to 350 millilitres from local varieties. They also produce approximately 260 nuts per year, compared to about 160 nuts from the ones we currently have,” he explained.
Minister Mustapha noted that these coconuts have multiple uses, including water, copra, oil, and fibre, which can be used as mulch. The government’s ongoing efforts to improve the coconut industry demonstrate a strong commitment to agricultural development and economic growth in Guyana.
