The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has been conducting research into the utilisation of coconut husk by-products for agricultural purposes and recently acquired a coconut shredder.
The initiative is being conducted along with Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Switzerland-based International Trade Centre.
NAREI’s studies have led to the production of coir and cocopeat, made from shredded coconut husks. A release from the Ministry of Agriculture stated that NAREI is exploring using coconut coir as mulch for soil as it is an excellent soil enricher, while cocopeat, the compressed form of coconut dust, has been found to be an excellent ingredient for potting mixtures. It was also noted that a recent study at the Hope Estate revealed that cocopeat was excellent for vegetable seedling production as well as coconut germination.
“Cocopeat could be used by coconut framers to germinate coconuts of course with a combination of soil and whatever else…Our research found that cocopeat used as potting media for coconut germination resulted in 100 percent germination…The previous mixture of sand and paddy only saw 75 percent of the coconuts germinating,” Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI stated.
The release explained that coconut husks, which are dumped in waterways, dumpsites and along parapets, are actually raw materials with great economic and environmental values. “The green agenda has been set…We want to make use of coconut ‘waste’…A considerable amount of raw material is generated from the dry coconuts and water nuts…And, we see how indiscriminately coconut husks are thrown into the Pomeroon River, which is actually problematic for boats traversing there,” Dr. Homenauth highlighted.
The coir and cocopeat are made after the coconut husk is passed through a coconut shredder. The release related that NAREI acquired one of the machines through the just concluded European Union-funded Regional Coconut Development Initiative, with the aim of highlighting the economic and environmental value of coconut husk.
Dr. Cyril Roberts, CARDI’s Country Representative, emphasised that the intention is to have persons or groups invest in similar shredders, and noted that stakeholders from areas including Linden and Essequibo were granted the opportunity to see how it is operated. The shredder, procured duty-free, cost US$6,000, and has a capacity to process 1,000 nuts per day.
Meanwhile, Dr. Roberts noted that they have already made headway in utilizing the by-products in the agricultural sector. “CARDI, Coconut NSP and NAREI’s Extension Officers, Nunes and McAlmont, are collaborating to use the shredded coconut husk as mulch and compost in the West Coast Berbice…Also, CARDI, Coconut NSP and GLDA are collaborating to explore the use of the shredded coconut waste as a fibre source component in a ruminant byproduct feed blend,” Dr. Roberts said.
