Coconuts Can Be Big Business for Belize

Coconut may be big business soon for Belize – the emerging industry is supported by the Caribbean Coconut Industry Development Project which aims to improve income and employment opportunities, food security and overall competitiveness of the Caribbean Coconut sector. At least two companies are exporting coconuts and creating opportunities for local farmers. The Minister of Agriculture Godwin Hulse met with the National Coconut Stakeholders Platform Board last month and gave his Ministry’s commitment to support the sustainable development of this emerging industry. When we spoke with him on Monday, Hulse told us about the opportunities that this industry is set to create.

Godwin Hulse

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture

“Four thousand five hundred acres under cultivation. There is coconut being exported whole, in a little packet with a straw that you juck in the top and drink the juice. I understand that it has a thirty day shelf-life. It is going to the US. Other people are planting coconuts, it is an industry we want to hope to balloon. There is a company called TexBel in the south that is doing it, and there is one up north by Sergio Marroquin who is also doing it. It is a project that can blossom across the country. It is one of the young new exports that we will hope to push on.”

Reporter

“Sir, on the highway we normally see persons selling. What is the problem with the actual waste? How do you get rid of that?”

Godwin Hulse

“I have visited with the citrus people and I see that they are importing those straws nicely compacted and crushed that they will be using for compost to grow the seedlings and because then they can begin export some of those; they can’t export dirt. But you could export that and they are just going through some trials. That could open up a whole new industry and it is an exciting thing as well that you could get that; somebody may want to invest to take those shells and husks and grind them up and so forth and make this kinda composting material.”