St Ignatius coconut nursery to produce 12,000 seedlings per year

A coconut nursery at Stock Farm, St Ignatius in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has been established by the Agriculture Ministry and will have the capacity to produce some 3000 seedlings every three months.
Seedlings were derived from Hope Coconut Estate, East Coast Demerara (ECD). This project was done in collaboration with Hope Estate and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) under the Agriculture Ministry’s National Coconut decentralisation programme.
The main objective of this programme is for farmers to have easy access to adequate amounts of high-yielding and disease-resistant coconut seedlings at an affordable cost. It is promise fulfilled in accordance with the Government’s manifesto for agriculture. With such investments, Guyana’s production will increase significantly, as well as its export capacity.
To date, 120 shade houses have been constructed, with nine nurseries established around the country under the National Coconut Decentralisation Programme. The export volume of coconut and coconut products as at November 2022 amounted to 7375 metric tonnes, while 1000 Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts were acquired and another 1000 are being procured.
Just a few months ago, the Ministry also commissioned a new coconut seedling nursery in Hosororo Village, Region One (Barima-Waini). At full capacity, the nursery would be able to produce some 206,000 seedlings annually.
Given the benefits of and the growing demand for coconuts and coconut by-products, farmers in Guyana have been urged by Government to get involved in coconut production. Coconuts can be used to make oils, soaps, lotions, beauty supplies, pharmaceuticals, and cooking products. The coconut water industry is also estimated at $2.2 billion.
Guyana is among three of the major coconut-producing countries in the Region; producing some 20 per cent of the Region’s demand while the Dominican Republic produces some 59 per cent, and Jamaica some 12 per cent.
In 2023, the agriculture sector will see an injection of hundreds of millions of dollars to support high-value crops, through infrastructure and other developments.
Government’s agricultural strategy will be built around three major initiatives – a regional food hub to promote improved access to markets; establishment of the capability to use science and technology in the sector; and promotion of hinterland agriculture and food self-sufficiency.  A new high-yielding and disease-resistant coconut variety will be introduced to farmers with eight demonstration plots. (G12)