Coconut benefits ripe for the taking
EFFORTS are on the way to further develop Barbados’ coconut industry.
This was revealed yesterday during a training workshop for local coconut vendors, which was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture in association with the Ministry of Health and the Caribbean Agriculture Research & Development Institute (CARDI) and held in the Vector Control Unit on Magazine Lane yesterday.
The vendors were given an opportunity to learn about the importance of sanitation and other best practices in the Ministry’s final workshop in its recent training series and were also encouraged to broaden their scope to consider other products that can be derived from coconut such as oils, milk, flour and even the shells which could be used as mulch.
Agricultural Officer Mark Byer along with CARDI Local representative Ansari Hosein and Senior Environmental Health Officer, Richard Bourne, were on hand to discuss the plans for the sector and the critical role to be played by coconut vendors.
Byer who noted that this process started a year ago highlighted some of the challenges which were identified during a meeting of various stakeholders. These included the disposal of coconut husks, the need to improve sanitation for coconut vendors, the need to acquire high yielding plant material, both locally and externally, coconut tissue culture training and the need to develop the processing component to help broaden the industry.
“We have been able to look at growing coconuts. CARDI brought in a couple of specialists and last year we had some training for the growers. We have been able to look at improving the way coconuts are grown to maximise the yield. So that training is ongoing.”
He also revealed that the Ministry with financing from CARDI has conducted a survey of 200 coconut growers. “That is completed; the analysis is being done, to get an idea of what is happening in terms of production. That is going to underpin looking at those other two things that we said we wanted to do – The Value Chain analysis and Industry Development profile, to see where the advantages are for us to go forward as an industry,” it was explained.
Furthermore, “We have undertaken the mapping of local plant material. Barbados has the way of getting the best of the best. And we have some trees in Barbados that are very high yielding. We have started to identify them, seeking to propagate them. Plus we are looking to get some plant material out of Brazil.”
He said efforts are also on the way to bring in plant material from India, while CARDI is looking at places such as Mexico, all in an effort to improve production.
Byer told the vendors that there have been some concerns in terms of sanitation of vending. “Based on this workshop and as we improve your presentation and your sanitation practices, I believe you are going to get more people to use water. So it is going to benefit you in the long run. More people would be comfortable and purchasing the coconut water,” he said.
The workshop will continue on Wednesday and concludes on Monday with participants receiving their own starter kits and a certificate.
Yesterday’s activity was part of a regional project which targets 11 countries with some financial support being provided through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). (JH)