Latest update February 22nd, 2025 2:00 PM
Latest News
- $277.9M Mabaruma Magistrates’ Court commissioned at Mabaruma
- Min. Indar scolds contractors over unsanctioned works days after VP Jagdeo called out ministry’s shoddy management of construction sites
- White House expects Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal soon
- Simplify cash grant distribution processes
- Peacemaker chopped after intervening in argument
Pomeroon Trading to become major supplier of coconut planting materials
Dr. Homenauth on a recent visit to the nursery at Pomeroon
Guyana’s coconut industry is about to get a big boost with the establishment of a nursery in the Pomeroon. British businessman, Duncan Turnbull, recently set up a local company, Pomeroon Trading Inc.
The company, which is currently rehabilitating a 700-acre estate leased from the Stoll family, aims to use technology to transform the local industry. Thirty thousand seedlings have already been planted and this is likely to be increased to 50,000 in the next year.
Duncan explained that the unavailability of coconut seedlings is one of the key reasons for underperformance in the local coconut sector. “We are trying to tackle this problem at the most fundamental level.”
He added, “Existing estates are often ageing and unproductive. [Most importantly], without the right planting materials, the industry cannot revitalize.” The company aims to be the largest supplier of planting materials in Pomeroon.
Duncan and his team recently met with the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Oudho Homenauth to provide an update on the nursery and works being done to rehabilitate the estate.
The British businessman expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from NAREI and the Ministry of Agriculture. He said that his company has provided employment to about 40 persons in the community and has replanted 30,000 coconut trees.
While the company’s main aim is to export coconut water, it will be experimenting with value added processing facilities, including using coconut husk for biofuels.
Additionally, the company will be intercropping with avocado, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, moringa, passion fruit and stevia.
They are looking at high value crops that can be processed in Guyana before being exported. The company recently built and headed over a dining hall to the Hackney primary school as part of its corporate social Responsibility in the community.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The clock and the cloud
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Time, as the ancients knew, is a trickster. It slips through the fingers of kings and commoners... more
CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies
By Sir Ronald Sanders Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News-Two Executive Orders issued by U.S.... more
Weekend Cartoon
