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Home | Bold, visionary steps needed for expansion of coconut production - Green
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, has called for bold visionary steps to be taken by the Coconut Industry Board (CIB) and coconut growers to expand Jamaica’s coconut industry, noting that the industry is critical to the country’s economic regeneration.
The Agriculture Minister pointed out that the coconut industry is a $2-billion one worldwide while locally there was one company that had the ability to process 24,000 coconuts daily.
“There is no doubt about the level of demand for coconut water and coconut oil and other by-products. There is no doubt that we have a competitive advantage. What we need to do is to reposition the industry, rebrand the industry, expand coconut shops outside of Kingston,” said Mr. Green.
He was speaking at the virtual annual coconut growers meeting on May 27 where he challenged them to move with alacrity to acquire lands, and accelerate the pace of resuscitation of its seed gardens and nurseries with a view towards increasing coconut production and germination.
“We need a definitive programme to engage our young people in the planting of coconut,” Green stated.
He also urged the CIB to continue to build out its research capabilities as well as its work in reducing the incidences of lethal yellowing.
Additionally, Mr. Green called on the Board to accelerate the pace at which it is producing good planting material in order to increase the population of coconuts.
The Agriculture Minister commended the Board for its prudent financial management of the industry and the solid framework that has been put in place to ensure viability of the industry as well as the technical and marketing support that have been provided to the farmers over the years.
This, he said, included free distribution of 49,757 seedlings at a cost of $9.1 million along with fertilizer and a weed grant of $4.4 million in 2020, which resulted in an increase in production of coconuts by farmers.
The Minister also praised the CIB for its direct marketing support to the farmers with the purchase of 670,066 coconuts in 2020 at a cost of over $38 million for sale in its Coconut Shop.
