With the global coconut market expected to grow at an annual rate of 13.56%, reaching US$39.70 billion by 2028, Guyanese authorities are accelerating production to help meet the skyrocketing demand. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha revealed these plans during his year-end presser.
For last year, he said approximately 40,000 coconut seedlings were produced. He said 1,274 additional acres came under cultivation, and 297 farmers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10 benefited from training in aspects of coconut production.Mustapha said this has resulted in an approximately 10% increase in acreage in 2023 over 2020, with approximately 31,500 acres of coconut.
In 2023, as well, he said 26,000 high-yielding Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts were imported. The Minister explained, “While I am telling you [on one hand] that we produced 40,000 coconut seedlings [but] we brought in 26,000 Green Dwarf seed nuts, the difference is that we are working to increase the capacity of the coconuts we produce…approximately 400ml is in our coconuts while the Brazilian nuts carry 750 ml…so we are trying to replicate that around the country…” Mustapha said some 216 farmers were contracted to cultivate this new variety.
In line with the national coconut decentralization programme, Minister Mustapha also mentioned the establishment of 10 nurseries since 2020. These nurseries, scattered across various regions, are pivotal in supporting the widespread production of coconut seedlings.
Mustapha also noted that the industry’s growth is not just limited to raw coconut production. He said there has been a significant shift towards value-added production, particularly with the utilization of coconut husks for making coconut fiber and coco peat. To facilitate this diversification, eight fiber machines are set to be operational in different regions by the end of January 2024, with a focus on areas like Pomeroon.
Minister Mustapha also underscored his commitment to enhancing the coconut sub-sector’s productivity as he noted that two experts from India were invited to conduct studies aimed at improving cultivation techniques.
In summary, he said these comprehensive efforts by the Guyanese government signal a robust and strategic approach to capitalizing on the booming global coconut market.
