Guyana working with Middle East to boost local halal food industry for export – Pres Ali

…Indonesian experts in Guyana to assist with prawn production
…as 5 acres of land in Region 5 set aside for agri-entrepreneurs

Guyana is looking to tap into the lucrative halal food industry, boosting the production quality of halal meat locally with the help of the middle east. This was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during an engagement with youths in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
On Tuesday, President Ali met with youths in the region at the Park Square Fun City Recreation Centre in Mahaicony to discuss opportunities in agriculture. One such opportunity is the halal meat industry, with President Ali announcing that the middle east is providing assistance to the government in developing certifications for this industry, all while they work on securing niche markets.
“We’re working with the middle east, because we want to set up a halal industry certification programme. So, we’ll have a specialised market, a niche market. But even for our local markets now. So, we have the storage we’re working to have. The value added, that is the sausages, meat balls. Having the meatballs prepared and frozen, all of that. Newer, higher value market. So, the offtake is there,” President Ali further said.

Another area Guyana is getting foreign assistance in, is the production of prawn. According to the president, Indonesian specialists are already in Guyana assisting with a prawn production facility.
Ali also explained that storage facilities are being developed in all the regions, which will ensure that produce does not go to waste. That being said, the Head of State noted that the demand for certain goods have been outstripping production.
“For example, broiler meat. If you look at broiler meat, in 2022 and 2023, almost 252,000 metric tonnes was the demand in the region. That’s a market of about US$457 million,” the head of state explained.
President Ali also issued a warning that price gouging will not be tolerated, as more farmers benefit from the opportunities created by government investments. He emphasised that a fair pricing system will be established to maintain stable prices and ensure the sustainability of efforts to promote agri-businesses.
“As a farmer, you know that we work towards a fixed price mechanism. But the middle man will take that fixed price and increase it by 200 per cent. So, what we have to get is a commitment from all the farmers. That we are working with a price margin and settlement. Not when you start getting the resources and believe you can increase the prices.”

“That is not sustainable. So, one of the most important things, with this kind of activity, is that we’re setting up the fair price mechanism for the farmers. And that goes directly into the value-added production or the market,” he further explained.

Agri-business
Ali explained that as part of the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, the government will develop five acres of land, where youths in the region can then develop their own agriculture businesses. This includes the options of being included in the Onverwagt Prawns Project or another agriculture project.
Further, the government will be collaborating with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Demerara Bank, to offer low interest loans to participants. The intention, according to the head of state, is to have a group of youths be assigned to a project such as one of the ponds that are home to the prawns.
This will cut down on the individual overhead and input costs of the youngsters, while allowing them to reap the rewards of entrepreneurship. The President therefore encouraged persons to come together and pool their resources to invest in these businesses.
“The objective of this programme is to create agro-businesses within the food eco-system. About two years, three years ago, we did not have so many young people. Even thinking about agri-business opportunities and how they could benefit.”
“Because when you look from an individual level, you did not have the collateral, the capital and frankly speaking, many of you did not believe that in the food eco-system, there were opportunities to create businesses and opportunities to create wealth,” President Ali explained.
Also present at the event were Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Livestock Development Agency, Dr. Dwight Walrond, and Director General of the Agriculture Ministry, Madanlall Ramraj, who all commented on the significant difference being made in the agriculture potential of the region. (G3)