Coconut Farmers Urged to Explore New By-Products

Coconut farmers are being urged to explore new and innovative options for by-products made from the fruit, in order to increase their profitability.

Speaking at a Town Hall in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on May 27, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coconut Industry Board (CIB), Shaun Cameron, encouraged the farmers to think “outside of the box” and enter new markets, in addition to the popular coconut water and coconut oil markets.

“I want you to change your narrative… go back to the innovative way of doing things. Coconut is a natural, healthy product [and] Jamaican products are normally niche products, high-quality products. I want you to think ‘how it is I can use my coconut orchard to come up with value-added products that I can sell to a particular market and expand my business portfolio’,” Mr. Cameron said.

The CEO suggested markets such as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals that can help the farmers turn their coconut production into a business opportunity.

He noted that some persons make soaps and other skincare products, “but I want you to think of it on a larger scale – coconut vinegar, coconut sugar, coconut rum – everything coconut-related that you can leverage to create niche products that you can export and earn foreign revenue.”

In the meantime, the CEO said the CIB is taking steps to attract young persons to the local coconut industry, as currently the average age of a coconut farmer is 65 years old.

“Without the youth, there is no industry; we have to transfer the knowledge,” Mr. Cameron said. Furthermore, he noted that with proper care, a coconut tree can live up to 100 years.

“Your kids and their kids can benefit from the investment you put in your orchard,” Mr. Cameron told the farmers.

This year, the CIB is celebrating its 80th anniversary and the Town Hall helped the organisation to connect with its farmers in St. Thomas and East Portland.

The day’s activities included presentations by the CIB’s research team, featuring Director of Research and Development, Dr. Wayne Myrie; Botanist/Plant Breeder, Chantelle Campbell-McTaggart; and Agronomist/Crop Physiologist, Lydia Tucker.

There was also a presentation on praedial larceny by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

During the event, the CIB also awarded outstanding farmers in the categories of Industry Stalwarts, Best Reapers and Most Dedicated Coconut Supplier.