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