Updates

Creating a sustainable coconut industry in the Caribbean

Agribusiness and food systems

6 March 2024

ITC News

A five-day event looks at how to grow the industry through sustainable farming, commercialization and agro-processing.

Strengthening the Caribbean coconut value chain. Next stop: Jamaica

The Regional Coconut Workshop, which kicked off on 4 March in Kingston, takes place against the backdrop of Phase 2 of a regional coconut project called: Alliances for Coconut Industry Development, Expansion, and Enhanced Support.

In Jamaica, the project works with smallholder farmers and small businesses to bring the country closer to the goals of its National Coconut Sector Roadmap. So far 5,000 farmers and small businesses have worked with the project throughout the Caribbean.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton highlighted how bottom-up approaches like ITC’s Alliances for Action foster innovative and sustainable production and business practices.

She put a spotlight on small businesses and underscored the importance of partnerships for the successful implementation of the project:

‘In the decade since the SIDS (Small Island Developing States) conference last convened, the small businesses that are the Caribbean’s pride and promise have seen their resilience tested repeatedly. They’ve walked a tough road. But they’ve also shown us what the way forward can look like. And that’s through partnerships, as we’ve seen in action through our work under this project.’

The project is supported by the EU and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Secretariat. It’s implemented by ITC, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Coconut Industry Board (CIB), key government agencies and business groups.

Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Kingston, iterated the EU’s dedication towards building a resilient and sustainable coconut industry in the Caribbean and its appreciation for the partnerships enabling that.

The Coconut Industry Board in Jamaica, renowned for its significant contributions to coconut research and extension, played a pivotal role in leading technical sessions. Establishing coconut seed gardens, hybridization techniques, and climate-smart production practices were explored, providing valuable insights and hands-on experience.

Other key speakers included Hon. Minister Floyd O'Brien Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Jamaica; Christopher Gentles, Chairman, Coconut Industry Board; Shaun Cameron, General Manager of the Coconut Industry Board; Ansari Hosein, Executive Director of CARDI; and Dr Wayne Myrie Plant Pathologist/Molecular Biologist, Alliances for Coconuts Project National and Regional Coordinator, Coconut Industry Board.

Twelve CARIFORUM countries, including Jamaica, are actively participating in the regional coconut project. The collaborative efforts underscore a shared commitment to fostering resilience and sustainability in the Caribbean coconut industry.

Caribbean producers are now better poised as players in the global coconut market, which is expected to reach more than $8 billion by the year 2030, expanding at a rate of 8.4% from 2023 to 2030. It’s wonderful to see so many Caribbean countries recognizing the value of the coconut industry and taking the initiative to expand it, not just for their own self-sufficiency, but to enter the export market. The work must continue if we are to achieve the national targets set out in Vision 25 by 2025, and to reposition this important industry for good.

Ansari Hosein

CARDI

Executive director

During the recent significant drought period, our coconut farmers were able to adapt and make sure that they were able to sustain their livelihood with climate-smart and good agricultural practices. Like you, we're here to sustain our livelihoods and to grow the GDP of our country through agriculture. Through this week’s workshop and field visits, together with our partners, we’ll be well on our way to do just that.

Shaun Cameron

Coconut Industry Board

General manager

The coconut project and the partnerships it is built upon are facilitating the much-needed transition of the agricultural sector towards more sustainable food production. The sustainability of food systems is a priority area identified in the Farm to Fork strategy of the European Green Deal. We aim to collectively create food systems that are healthy for all of us and for the planet.

Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz

EU Delegation, Kingston

Head of Cooperation

The reality across the region is that the climate has changed. 2023 was our hottest and driest year ever recorded. When I speak to our regional partners, this is also our regional experience. So any project that we craft has to take into account our new climate realities. Our strategic direction in Jamaica follows four pillars: Food security, agribusiness development, climate-smart technology, and export expansion. We can't achieve these alone, and the coconut project and its partnerships align well with these goals.

Hon. Floyd O'Brian Green

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

About the project

The International Trade Centre’s Alliances for Action, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and important regional and national partners have been working since 2015 to facilitate alliances among actors at every step of the Caribbean coconut value chain through the Caribbean: Development of value added products and intra-regional trade to enhance livelihoods from coconuts CARIFORUM programme funded by the European Union.

Sustainable agriculture and processing practices, value addition and commercial alliances are some of the key tools leveraged. The goal of the project is to increase food availability and incomes of small-scale farmers through improved competitiveness of the coconut sector.