Caribbean Farmers Prepare for Coconut Boom

(Caribbean360) —Coconuts are a long-time staple of Caribbean cuisine, and practically an emblem of the region’s climate and culture. But a new international initiative is shifting coconut’s image to an icon for business process innovation, wealth generation and sustainable livelihoods.

In the last four years, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been implementing a major regional project, working alongside the International Trade Centre and stakeholders along the coconut value chain to transition the region’s small-scale operations to enterprise-level profitability in the global coconut industry. The European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Secretariat funded the four-year project to the tune of US$27 million.

An upcoming celebration called CARDI Day will highlight the Institute’s ongoing work in the EU-ACP funded Regional Coconut Industry Development Project, through a series of exhibitions, public lectures and school tours. Participants will see the many practical ways in which the project is breathing new life into one of the region’s oldest industries. Held on December 5, the celebration will also mark the day in 1974 when Caribbean government representatives met in Georgetown, Guyana to sign an agreement establishing the Institute.

Worldwide, a growing demand for fresh coconut produce is being driven by recent trends in the global food and beverage sector and the health and beauty market. It’s hardly surprising that Caribbean farmers are exploring new ways to get more out of the coconut value chain, converting every part of the iconic tree into marketable assets. But it’s not that simple. For many farmers, issues like pests, disease and limited market access are severely constraining their ability to make a sustainable living from coconuts.

Read more at: Caribbean360