33,000 acres of coconut under cultivation – Agri Minister

…as coconut production increased by 7113 acres

Guyana’s coconut industry is steadily growing with some 33,000 acres of land in cultivation in 2024.
During his end-of-year press conference on Monday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted the statistics associated with the sector.
“We have seen success in the coconut industry…Coconut has gained prominence, and we have seen a lot of improvements in coconut cultivation. As a matter of fact, in the last four years, we have increased coconut production by 7,113 acres since 2020. The total acreage under cultivation as of December 2024 is approximately 33,000,” Mustapha stated.
In particular, he said that the Hope Coconut Estate, East Coast Demerara performed significantly well, producing thousands of coconut seedlings.
“In 2024, the Hope Coconut Estate performed exceptionally well, having produced some 51,320 coconut seedlings by the end of December 2024,” he said.
The importation of seedlings was also emphasized, as the industry recorded importing a large number of foreign-styled hybrid coconuts, which contributed to the bolstering production in Guyana.
“In terms of seed nuts, we have also imported 63,000 high-yielding Brazilian green dwarf, Philippine green dwarfs and Brazilian hybrid seed nuts seed nuts to boost Guyana’s coconut production capacity,” Minister Mustapha noted.
He added, “We have been working with farmers across the country, especially in places like the Pomeroon, to enhance coconut cultivation there. As a result, we have seen increased production from farmers in those areas.”
Farmers are also using husks from the plant to enhance the growth of coconuts. Meanwhile, as farmers maximize their efforts, the Agriculture Ministry has recorded a surge in value-added products being generated from the coconut industry.
“Over the last four years, we have seen a lot of value-added products being generated from the coconut industry. We are seeing that the Hope Coconut Estate is producing fibre and coconut pea from using the coconut husks throughout the year. This enhances plant growth and helps farmers improve their yields.” the minister concluded.
Earlier this year during an outreach in the Pomeroon River area, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Mustapha had announced that the Government will make available some 3000 high-yield coconut plants to local farmers.
Over 120 farmers each received 25 Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut plants as part of the first phase of a larger project.
The country continues to produce coconut on a large scale, to make it one of the most significant crops in the nation as a result of the sector’s diversification.
For 2023, Guyana received some 13,000 high-yielding Brazilian green dwarf coconut seed nuts for $12 million to expand coconut production.
There are ten coconut nurseries spread across Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Nine, and 10, with the agriculture minister recently announcing that the Government intends to expand the initiative to other regions due to the excellent potential for coconuts.
Government has also been emphasising the enormous potential for Guyanese farmers to export in the substantial market, which includes the Caribbean, as well as North America and Europe, given the high level of interest in the coconut industry. (G2)