Coconut Industry Board Hosting Town Halls to Educate Farmers on Policy Shifts

The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) has embarked on a series of townhalls to inform farmers about a range of critical changes to the entity’s benefits and policies in recent times.

The CIB recently launched its town hall series at ANR Farms in Perth Town, Trelawny, where team members shared policy updates and provided farmers with essential coconut care tips.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaun Cameron, told JIS News that the meetings aim to facilitate direct, one-on-one interactions with farmers and other key stakeholders.

He emphasised that several changes have been made within the 80-year-old organisation over the past three years, adding that it is essential for these interests to stay informed.

Mr. Cameron indicated that the CIB is visiting various regions across the island to engage with and educate farmers.

He noted that while coconut farming has historically been more prominent in the eastern parishes of Portland, St. Mary, and St. Thomas, production has expanded in parishes such as St. Catherine and Clarendon.

The CEO noted that while some 700 farmers are registered with the CIB, the organisation is working towards increasing that number to 1,000.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cameron encourages older farmers to pass down their coconut farming businesses to family members or explore other ways to share their agricultural expertise.

“We understand that the demographics of the farmers have changed significantly. The coconut farmers age between… 45 and 70 years old, and the majority is at the older end of the spectrum. So, we’re encouraging the farmers to transition their businesses to family members or invest in an agricultural school where you can speak [and] get the best and brightest to come and work and take over your farm so that there’s a level of sustainability. We have fought hard to bring back the industry, and [we] want continuous sustainability,” he emphasised.

Mr. Cameron also encourages farmers to register with the CIB, highlighting the numerous benefits available to them.

He said the entity provides free support, planting materials, fertilisers and has enlisted some of the world’s leading coconut experts.
“The benefits that you get… mitigate and manage the risk for you to invest in a coconut orchard. The hybrids that you utilise are manufactured and produced by the CIB, so it’s a win-win situation. The more coconut farmers we have, the better it is for the country when it comes to coconut production and the better it is for the CIB, because we buy the products that you produce,” Mr. Cameron pointed out.

Meanwhile, the CEO is urging farmers to support the organisation as it continues to evolve and expand its initiatives.

“We are implementing technology and modernising how we communicate and reach our farmers. But the most important thing is that we are a family. [We] want to maintain this family relationship and grow the industry in new and positive ways to benefit the entire sector and sustain the viability of the coconut industry and the Coconut Industry Board,” Mr. Cameron stated.

The CIB is a statutory body established by the Coconut Industry Control Act of 1945.

It is responsible for monitoring and informing the Government of Jamaica of the state of the coconut industry, advising growers of agronomic best practices and providing quality planting materials.