| Pomeroon coconut farmers are adamant that the red palm mite disease which continues to destroy acres of coconut fields is set to bring the coconut industry down. They are claiming that government is yet to respond to their pleas for assistance.However, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture George Jervis in an interview yesterday stated that the disease is indeed engaging the attention of the Ministry.He related that technical experts from the Inter-American Institute for Co-Operation on Agriculture (IICA) and Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) are already assisting the Ministry.In addition, he stated that material assistance will also be forthcoming.Meanwhile farmers laid out the issues which the industry is facing.Randolph Hammond, of Grant Kitty, in the Lower Pomeroon River and who owns almost 60 acres of coconut farm land, indicated that the problem has gotten worse since they raised the issue some two weeks ago.According to the farmer, people are skeptical about purchasing coconut water since some farmers are treating the affected coconut trees with monocrotophos, which is a banned insecticide.Coconut palmsHammond said the leaves of his coconut trees have turned yellow and the young coconuts are falling off which is an indication that the tree is dying.Hammond said he cannot afford to buy the expensive chemicals and is calling for speedy intervention to have the drug price reduced.Farmers are also calling for assistance of a “booster” which they argue would aid in containing the disease to some extent.Another farmer,Wholesale Stitched Jerseys, Julian Benn, of Burnt Bush, Lower Pomeroon River,Jerseys NFL China, pronounced that by next year the coconut industry in the Pomeroon River could possible collapse if help is not forthcoming.Benn said that almost 25-30 percent of coconut trees have already been affected. He revealed that the pest has affected trees throughout the entire Pomeroon River.The palm mite disease has now spread to plantain and banana plants.The coconut palm is grown in over 80 countries around the world. From the world production, more than 50 percent is processed into copra.A small portion is converted into dissected coconut, while the rest is consumed as fresh nuts.Locally, coconut ranks third in regard to acreage cultivated, after rice and sugar.With the current downward trend of rice and sugar, long considered Guyana’s agricultural mainstay,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, there have been calls for Government to focus its attention on non-traditional crops.Popularly referred to as the ‘tree of life’,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, Coconut is also a source of renewable energy. Its fields can also accommodate various crops including livestock.Coconut is widely considered one of the key non-traditional crops that Guyana has to offer,cheap jerseys from china, as it can not only be used in fuel, food and feed, but can produce coconut water and oil,Curry Basketball Shoes For Sale, kernel and milk. |
