Guyana’s coconut in vast demand

Jan 04, 2013 News

– Agri Ministry promises to make industry a priority

There is now great demand for coconut locally, regionally, and internationally.
This is according to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who explained that Guyana’s coconut contains one of the thickest kernels in the world.
It is because of this that the Ministry of Agriculture has opted to make the coconut industry a priority for this year.
The Ministry’s end of year report stated that approximately 100,000 water nuts are required weekly to supply the local market’s demand. Its annual production (general) is about 240,000,000 nuts.
The Ministry via the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) says that it will be working to further strengthen its coconut revitalization which was implemented in 2009.
A National Stakeholder Coconut Conference with international participation is expected to be held this month, to discuss ways of reaching these demands, as well as to promote a capacity to take advantage of the opportunities to export products such as coconut water and coconut oil.
In 2012, the Ministry established “research and development support” for value-added products from coconuts, so as to allow it to become more profitable. This, Ramsammy explained, will see an increase in the incomes of poor farmers, via training and education programmes.
Last month saw the Ministry of Agriculture hosting an internal coconut assessment meeting, allowing new focus to be brought on to the coconut industry.

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