1. Certified Quality Planting Material – for rehabilitation and new plantings, both endemic and exotic:
a. Stock assessment of indigenous / local varieties.
b. Quality assurance system. c. Capacity building.
Manage Pests – Caribbean Plant Health Directors to develop and implement strategies to safeguard and manage major pests of coconuts at national and regional level:
a. Surveillance.
b. Pest risk analysis.
c. Integrated pest management.
2. Enhance Scientific Capacity
a. Strengthen and support ongoing research and development initiatives on major pests – Red Palm Mite (T&T, Dominica, DR, Jamaica, and St. Lucia); Lethal Yellowing (Jamaica, Belize, DR); Red Ring and trunk boring insects (T&T, Guyana, DR and Belize).
b. Build capability for characterizing genetic resources (laboratories and human resources).
c. Support research and development for new niche products and improving production efficiencies.
3. Market Intelligence – Intensify efforts to gather evidence-based market intelligence for growth opportunities:
a. For local consumption.
b. For regional consumption / markets.
c. For international markets.
d. For mainstream and value-added niche markets (CARICOM Oils & Fats).
4. Finance and Business Development – Prioritisation of the key issues for improving the competitiveness of coconuts:
a. Mobilisation of private and public sector funding.
b. Supporting industry clustering , capacity building (scientific research, laboratory facilities, new product development).
c. Explore opportunities for international funding including the 11th EDF.
