The first shipment of 1,000 Brazilian Green Dwarf seed nuts, arrived in Guyana in late October from the Tecnologia Na Produção De Coqueiros (COHIBRA), Brazil. Five hundred seed nuts each were distributed to The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and Hope Coconut Industries Limited (Hope Farms), to evaluate the performance and productivity of the variety under local conditions. The Brazilian Green Dwarf is a widely popular water nut variety. On average a plant produces between 250 – 300 nuts per year under good conditions, with each nut potentially producing between 350 ml to 450 ml of water. An added advantage of this variety is its demonstrated tolerance to Lethal Yellowing. On arrival of the seednuts in Guyana, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha noted “this variety can be a game changer for the industry.”
Having access to highly productive varieties like the Brazilian Green Dwarf, will ensure farmers and processors can satisfy the increasing local demand for coconut and coconut related products, as well as tap into lucrative foreign markets. The International Coconut Community (ICC), projects the global value of coconut water in 2025, will be approximately 11 billion USD. Furthermore, of all coconut products, coconut water is projected to experience a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.03%. Productive new varieties like the Brazilian Green Dwarf, presents profitable opportunities for processors and agripreneurs as well as open the doors for farmers into new markets.
The challenges to the Regional coconut industry have been well documented. Production in the Region has been constrained by a range of problems including limited access to quality planting material, senile trees, pests and diseases and genetic erosion. The introduction of superior genetic material enhances the genetic diversity of the crop and offers greater resiliency to future climate change. Moreover, and very importantly, it will help producers optimize production and satisfy demand.
This activity directly supports the Government of Guyana’s objective of broadening the genetic base of coconuts, by introducing new superior varieties to improve production.
CARDI and the International Trade Centre (ITC), are pleased to coordinate the assessment and introduction of this variety into Guyana under the EU/CARIFORUM financed Alliances for Coconut Industry Development, Expansion and Enhanced Support for the Caribbean (ACIDEES) project. Both agencies are especially grateful to the support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, NAREI, Hope Farms, the National Plant Protection Organisation and COHIBRA.
The Institute eagerly anticipates the results of these evaluations. Once favourable seed gardens will be created to reproduce the variety. New superior varieties guarantee farmers earn higher incomes and improve their livelihoods.