Aquaculture could be a money-spinner – India’s diplomat

…says Guyana, India to increase collaboration in agriculture

Guyana and India, two countries which share a common bond in agriculture, are in the process of increasing their collaboration as Guyana seeks to benefit from the expertise India has to offer and even potential investments.
In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, disclosed that the Government of Guyana reached out to India for technical assistance not just in sugar, but in other sectors such as aquaculture.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has reached out to us, to work on rice, sugar and aquaculture. So, on the rice front, yes, we are working on that. Aquaculture is a big thing. The Government has reached out to us, to see if we can send a few experts from India. Because Guyana has tremendous potential, with its water canals and waterways. In fact, I went to Essequibo and Berbice,” Dr Srinivasa said, adding that there are tremendous opportunities in this area.
“…and the Government of Guyana has correctly recognised that aquaculture could be a money-spinner for the local people. It can be a source of exports and provide employment for local Guyanese,” the diplomat explained.
According to him, the Indian Government is also working with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to collaborate in not just the main agricultural sectors but also on the coconut front.
“A project we’re doing is with NAREI. We are working very closely with them to see if we can collaborate in sugar, rice. Those are separate boards, but with NAREI we want to do work on the coconut development front and other crops. With the amount of land Guyana has, I think there was some talk of contract farming.”
Lauding the abundant resources that Guyana possesses and the current Government’s drive to build capacity in the agriculture sector, Srinivasa explained that his diplomatic office has also been seeking to facilitate Indian investors with an interest in Guyana. This has involved the Indian High Commission working alongside agencies like the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest).
“We’ve been working very closely with Indian companies to invest in Guyana. And we’ve talked to GO-Invest and been in touch with Indian companies. In fact, one big Indian company that wants to come to Guyana is UPL. United Phosphorous Limited. I think it is a $9 to 10 billion company, with production facilities across the world. They even have one in Costa Rica. They do pesticides, fungicides, fertilisers. And they want to explore Guyana. We’re trying to facilitate that.”
“Apart from that is Mahendra Motors. It’s a name for quality in India. And we are working to see if these people get a good dealer. And once that comes, the farmers can make good use of it. It’s good quality and at the same time, durable. That’s what matters for the farmer,” the diplomat explained to this publication.
Under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the agriculture sector took severe blows when they closed four of Guyana’s seven sugar estates – Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon – in an effort to downsize the ailing sugar industry. This resulted in thousands of sugar workers being placed on the breadline.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had promised on the campaign trail to reopen these estates and within weeks of being in office, had taken steps in this direction. In fact, last September, the Irfaan Ali-led Administration had invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for “A joint venture, partnerships, or a leasing arrangement on the now re-opened vested sugar estates at Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon and also on the operational sugar estates at Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion…”
It was reported last November that along with one local entity, some nine international companies had submitted EoIs from Asia, North America, South America and the Caribbean. At least three of those foreign companies were Indian. (G3)