Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 22, 2018 News
The recent vandalism of 18 bearing coconut trees by persons at Hope Estate is a cause for concern and one which the Ministry of Agriculture will not sit by idly and allow to happen.
One person has since been arrested for the poisoning of the coconut trees and is cooperating with Guyana Police Force.
Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, in condemning the action, says it remains a cause for concern as acts such as this can only seek to undermine the already public progress the Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) has made.
According to the Minister, all efforts will be made to ensure that the incident is an isolated one, and is calling on the public to exercise maturity.
“Government will not tolerate people who vandalise any structure and in this case, it’s our coconut farms. While we are willing to work in rebuilding our coconut farms, incidents such as these can only hurt the industry,” the Minister said.
The Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) have been working around the clock to ensure farmers have readily available top quality coconut seedlings. Already successful nurseries are being managed at Pomeroon, Region Two, with farmers from the coconut growing regions taking advantage of the programme.
Only recently, the Ministry of Agriculture through assistance from the Mexican Government, received 450 tissue culture samples as part of the first phase of the programme and which will be used to advance its diversification thrust. The second batch of tissue culture is expected to arrive in Guyana by July.
General Manager of the HCIL, Rickey Roopchand, in expressing disgust at the incident, is calling on members of the farming community to work together with the HCIL in ensuring that the work of the Ministry is not stymied.
He added that already much is being done at the level of the Board and to ensure that farmers not only benefit from quality coconut seedlings but expand their services to include value-added commodities. The HCIL this year will commence the construction of a Coconut Water Bottling factory which will be used to process bottled coconut water for exports.
This venture by the HCIL, according to Roopchand, will see the Ministry buying coconuts from local farmers to supplement the production of bottled coconut water which will be sold to local, regional and international markets.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 23, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Over the weekend, the prestigious Lusignan Golf Club played host to the highly anticipated AMCHAM Golf Tournament, drawing golf enthusiasts and professionals alike from across...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]