Coconut cultivation being explored along major river banks

PRODUCTION of coconuts in Guyana is expected to double, as the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, is looking to cultivate this crop along the banks of major rivers across Guyana.

This was according to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, during a public engagement with residents of Mocha/Arcadia on the East Bank of Demerara, on Friday.

“That will help us to also stop erosion of those areas but at the same time, those lands will be productive. So, we have a specialist coming into the country shortly to help us in the coconut industry,” Minister Mustapha said.

This initiative aligns with the government’s vision of developing this lucrative industry as the agriculture minister speaks of the industry’s great potential.

Minister Mustapha informed residents that, since August 2, 2020, 12 coconut nurseries have been constructed and that had decentralised the availabil- ity of seed nuts from Hope Industries Limited (Hope Estate) to other parts of the country.

“That means people from the East Bank or people from West Coast or Berbice don’t have to come to Hope Coconut Estate or NAREI to buy these plants. We have it across this country now,” he said.

In addition, all farmers involved in this industry will be receiving the new Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut variety, which is intended to further boost the local coconut industry.

The Brazilian Green Dwarf variety is best known for its high-yielding properties, as well as its high tolerance to attacks from common pests and diseases that usually affect other varieties of coconut.

Its most outstanding characteristic, however, is its ability to produce a higher volume of water than other varieties commonly grown in Guyana. This variety is also said to produce water that has a high sucrose level, making it sweeter than others.

Guyana received some 1,000 seed nuts last year and additional seed nuts will be received this year.

“The Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut has potential … so, we are looking to build on that and all farmers eventually, who are producing coconuts or who are planting coconuts will receive that variety from us because we want to develop it,” the Agriculture Minister posited.

Guyana is leading the way in agriculture as CARICOM aims to lessen the almost $5 billion food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

Bandits leave two dead, one critical in Linden home invasion

- two suspects in custody

TWO suspects are currently in custody assisting with investigations into the Block 22 Wismar, Linden home invasion, which left two people dead and another critical.

Johnson Bowen, 87, and his son-in-law Manuel Dos Santos, 58, a gold miner, both of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, were brutally killed, allegedly by bandits sometime between 04:00 hrs and 04:15 hrs on Saturday.

Another family member, Denzel Roberts, 20, was shot in the mouth and remains in critical condition.

According to a neighbour, Dos Santos had recently returned from working in the interior, and it is believed that the bandits thought the family had gold and cash in the house. However, they were only able to escape with a laptop and some other items. In a desperate attempt to defend themselves, the males in the house attacked the intruders with cutlasses.

The bandits retaliated by opening fire before escaping on foot. Regional Police Commander of Division #10, Kurleigh Simon said that two persons are currently in custody in connection with the crime.

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn visited the family, and offered his sympathy and extended the Ministry’s support to the family during this difficult time. The investigation is still ongoing.