Coconut industry to be regenerated with new agreement
The Agriculture Ministry has embarked on efforts to facilitate the regeneration of the coconut industry in Guyana. An agreement was on Friday signed between the Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (CARDI) to expand the existing coconut nursery at Hope Estate.
The revitalisation of the industry has been of paramount interest to the Government. As such, this step was taken to ensure availability of quality
An agreement was on Friday signed between the Hope Coconut Industries Limited and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Extension Institute to expand the existing coconut nursery at Hope Estate. Overlooking the signing is Agriculture Minister Noel Holder (standing centre)
seedlings for farmers to continue and enhance the coconut industry in Guyana.
The agreement, which was signed in the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry, will offset the production of 50,000 seedlings within the first year. Signing the contract were the CARDI’S Representative to Guyana, Dr Cyril Roberts; and Hope Estate’s General Manager, Rickey Roopchand.
Dr Roberts in delivering remarks stated that the initiatives form part of CARDI’s Coconut Development Project which is being implemented across nine (Caribbean Community) Caricom countries.
“The Hope Estate will be responsible for the management of the nurseries and from our visit there recently, we are pleased thus far, with the progress made and the work being done to ensure farmers have access to high-quality seedlings,” Roberts said. General Manager, Hope Estate, Ricky Roopchand in welcoming the joint venture indicated that when the project is fully implemented, Hope Estate will have the capacity to supply 1000 coconut seedlings to farmers on a weekly basis.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder called for continued collaboration to ensure growth and success of the coconut industry.
CARDI, which is a regional institute established by the Caricom Heads of Government, is in the process of resuscitating the Caricom regional coconut industry and launched a further partnership with the International Trade Centre with funding support through the 10th European Development Fund.
