Guyana will tap into viable regional market by prioritising poultry – Mustapha

Fulfilling the local demand for livestock feed is just a stepping stone in entering the regional poultry market, which is being satisfied primarily by imported stocks.
Touted by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during an engagement with the media, it was outlined that it is a huge market that Guyana can tap into. Presently, only two per cent of the poultry demand is being met by local producers; the remainder is imported. As such, Guyana will aid in lowering the food import bill in the Caribbean region.
“One of the prioritised commodities is poultry. We are importing 98 per cent of the poultry meat that comes into the Caribbean. Whereas, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Belize, Barbados, Suriname have the potential of satisfying the local demand in the Caribbean. That is why we’re looking at the linkages like starting to produce corn and soya. Corn and soya will be a big thing to help us develop the livestock industry,” said the Agriculture Minister.
It has been reported that Guyana is looking to meet the feed demand of the local livestock industry, and with diversification into soya and corn crops, authorities are optimistic that production would come on stream by 2023. Government has said it is aiming for the country to be an exporter of soya bean in the next five years.
It was only last year that harvesting started at a 115-acre soya bean and a five-acre corn pilot project in Ebini, Upper Berbice River – a joint venture between various local and foreign investors – aimed at proving all raw materials for the production of livestock and poultry feed for the local sector.
The initiative is being developed by a consortium of investors that includes the owners of Guyana Stock Feed Ltd, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd, along with the Brazilian-owned NF Agriculture.
Meanwhile, the Blackbelly Sheep project is also in the cards, which Mustapha continues to push during talks with local and foreign stakeholders.
He has reiterated, “We are looking in partnership with Barbados to develop a brand for the Black Belly Sheep, creating a new brand rather than bringing the New Zealand lamb to this part of the world. Those are the things that we are talking about and we have the potential.”
With respect to the Black Belly Sheep Project, President Irfaan Ali had provided statistics to show that the project, once implemented and expanded, could earn US$43 million in annual revenue. By year four, he was optimistic that operating expenses would amount to US$24 million and beyond year four, US$30 million.
The project is also expected to provide employment for close to 4500 persons, directly and indirectly. Farmers need only come with their land and register with the Government and already, 78 of them have done so. The Government also wants to provide targeted support to women and youths, in this project. (G12)