A St Lawrence coconut farmer is seeking help to stop the destruction of his farm, which is continuing to be devastated by an unknown cause.
Kissoon ‘Kishore’ Looknauth has been farming coconuts for the past 10 years at St Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo Backdam. However, in the last five years almost half of his 25 acres of trees has been devastated.
According to the farmer, laden and healthy looking trees will suddenly begin dropping their fruits, then a yellowing will progress into dried and fallen branches and the tree will finally die. Most of the dried trees have since been replaced with new coconut plants and the young plants appear to be flourishing.
The farmer is hoping that the young plants will not contract the disease given the losses he has already suffered.
A visit to the farm saw scores of trees, which had already died and many showing evidence of the unknown disease.
The case was referred to the National Agricultural and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) for analysis and help to find a solution. Officials from NAREI have since visited the farm and are conducting investigations as well as offering advice and help with the supply of chemicals in the hopes of finding a cure for the problem.
NAREI CEO Dr Oudho Homenauth told Stabroek News that NAREI is intervening with the expectation of finding clues. He said the issue with Looknauth’s farm is a combination of different things, including coconut moth and heart rot, and he noted that the analysis is still underway. Some chemicals were offered to Looknauth about a week ago for him to test their effectiveness, he added.
Besides coconut, Looknauth also grows cash crops and plantains and he employs about five labourers.
Looknauth said that he does farming for the love of it and the fact that he is creating employment.
