The coconut plantation in Nagua, the coconut capital of the Dominican Republic, because it has the largest amount of coconuts planted. bald albert
SANTO DOMINGO – Coconut is not native to the Dominican Republic, nor do we have it in abundance in the country. However, it is often thought to be, especially when you drive through areas of Samaná or Nagua and see large plantations on high ground.
Although it may seem unbelievable, none of the above is correct because the coconut is not Dominican and we do not have sufficient quantities in the country to supply the needs of the market with the various products obtained from this fruit.
A dwarf coconut plant produces up to 180 units per year.
It turns out that the coconut comes from Africa and it is recorded that they brought it in the 16th century, in 1543. However, in those days it was not an important crop in the colonies, and it was time. of Trujillo when more importance was attached to the realization of the export potential of coconut oil.
Then the Dominican Republic became an important coconut exporter, not because of the volume of production, but because of the facilities to place it in international markets, so it reached Europe and the United States.
The coconut was of great importance in the islands of the Greater Antilles, which produced and traded it until a plague called deadly yellow affected it significantly.
Today, in all of the Americas, only Brazil processes more coconuts than the Dominican Republic. It is where the best industries and the best technology are. However, industrialization is moving much faster than on the ground, so they have been forced to import from other regions, where Guyana is the main supplier for the local market, says Horacio Lomba, executive of the Rica group, and that in Guyana they have a lot of coconuts, but they have no industry, while the Dominican Republic is the opposite, it has many sectors, but not enough coconuts.
From that nearby route comes 79% of the coconut produced in Guyana, which is processed and then goes to the United States, but this has a disadvantage because, although it has been good so far, there is a risk that if a major is installed on that island, the local industry will have problems.
Apart from Guyana, coconuts are also brought from Africa, Vietnam and other countries to be processed here, which increases the price of production. This is because, in addition to the fact that there are not enough coconuts in the country, producers cut them early due to scarcity, making it less complete. After all, it has less fat.
Due to the scarcity of coconuts, industries that process them in the country have to bring in more than 25 million units every year from other countries.
Problems of the sector
According to Horacio Lomba, some problems in the country affect the local industry, among them is that most of the plantations in the country are over 50 years old, adding that they are planted on high surfaces, which also hinders the supply. of demand because few people want to go and harvest it in those places.
But there are also problems with pests because there is no sanitary control in the country and most of these pests are in the places belonging to small producers who will not invest in the disinfection of the bushes. There is also no culture of fertilizing plants because people have bushes in the yard and they just harvest them.
Another problem is that there is no incentive for financing, although FEDA and Banco Agrícolas are already working on a planting project.
In the coastal areas there are many coconut trees, but when they become tourist areas they are not used because the fruits are cut to protect the tourists.
Lomba explains that Dominican Republic processors and exporters lacked the vision to plant on time. Today, competition in the international market is greater and exports have decreased significantly.
SUpply
25 million.
Units of coconuts are imported into the country every year to supply the domestic market demand.
tRANSFER
Varieties in the Caribbean
-1- Height of Panama
The Alto variety was recorded in Panama and the coast of Peru in 1514, then in the Mexican Pacific in 1539 and then in Cuba in 1565.
-2- Pacific Alto
The Alto Pacific was sent to Puerto Rico in 1525 from Cape Verde to Cuba in 1602, Jamaica in 1650, Trinidad and Tobago in 1760 and Saint Lucia in 1870.
-3- Dwarf
The dwarf coconut was introduced to the Caribbean in the 1970s from India and Malaysia.
-4- Hybrid
The hybrid arrived in the 1980s from France.
