CONTINUING efforts to boost productivity and foster farmer participation, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture, have made significant investments in high-yielding coconut varieties to support the expanding coconut sector.
In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Hope Coconut Estate General Manager, Ricky Roopchand, revealed that two 40-foot containers carrying 50,000 Philippine Green Dwarf Variety coconut seed nuts were received by Hope Estate on Wednesday, August 31, from Costa Rica. Valued at approximately G$9,000,000, these seed nuts are expected to enhance the sector and contribute to the economic growth of farmers and the country’s economy.

“We must be grateful to President Ali and Minister Mustapha for recognising and investing in this sector,” Roopchand said. “Coconuts are one of the most lucrative businesses not just in Guyana but throughout the world, and having these high-yielding seed nuts at our disposal changes the game for our farmers.”
Ricky Roopchand emphasised the simplicity and profitability of coconut farming, noting that it requires minimal time and resources compared to other crops. He praised the current administration for its dedication to agriculture, highlighting the significant progress made since 2020.

“President Ali and Minister Mustapha have shown their dedication towards this sector and all sectors in Guyana. They continue to show the importance and massive benefits that agriculture has for all of us, especially our farmers,” Roopchand added.
Over the last three years, more than 6,000 acres have been added to Guyana’s coconut industry, with the current trend indicating significant growth. The Philippine Green Dwarf Variety is anticipated to start producing coconut water in three years, offering higher sugar content and larger bunch sizes compared to local varieties. This is particularly promising given the increasing domestic and international demand for coconut water.
The coconut industry in Guyana now covers over 30,000 acres and employs more than 2,800 farmers, making it the nation’s largest non-traditional agricultural sector. The recent shipment was made possible through technical assistance from IICA, HCIL, and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), both part of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“This intervention is expected to directly benefit hundreds of coconut farmers around the country by providing them with adequate amounts of high-quality coconut seedlings at an affordable cost,” Roopchand stated. The initiative is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Coconut Decentralisation Programme. Another new coconut variety from Brazil is expected to arrive by mid-August, marking the introduction of three new varieties in under four years.
These seed nuts will supply the 10 coconut nurseries across the nation, which, at full capacity, could produce an estimated 206,000 seedlings annually. Guyana currently operates the largest CARICOM coconut seedling production programme, having previously supplied seeds to several other countries, strengthening bilateral ties within the Caribbean.
President Ali’s administration continues to highlight the strategic importance of agriculture, ensuring that Guyana’s coconut industry remains a vital component of the country’s economic development and agricultural sustainability.