Opportunities exist for public/private partnerships in meat processing – Pres Ali

…corn & soya industry vital to ramping up poultry production

Corn and soya bean, an industry in which Guyana has embarked only in the last few years, is a vital one, not only for the foreign currency it can earn Guyana, but also for increasing poultry production and helping slash food imports into the region.
This strategy was referenced by President Dr Irfaan Ali when he delivered the keynote address to launch the 17th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which will be held in The Bahamas from October 9-13, 2023.
The President named poultry as one of several priority commodities in which Guyana and the region as a whole must increase production in order to meet the target of a 25 per cent reduction in the food bill by 2025.
“These priority commodities are: poultry, meat, corn, soya beans, rice for feed production, beef, pork and mutton, niche vegetables and coconut products, among others,” President Ali, who was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, said.
“The region’s ability to produce corn and soya bean is of central importance as part of the process of ramping up the production of poultry; which, as you would be aware, is a significant protein source for the region,” he said.

Meat processing
He also spoke of meat processing opportunities in the agriculture sector for co-investment or partnerships between the Private Sector and the Government, which could be aimed at increasing the demand for, and production of, poultry products.
“As the Government of Guyana seeks to diversify the current meat output, there are now co-investment opportunities in areas such as sausage plants, a protein plant for agriculture, and a chicken nugget facility to meet local and regional demand,” President Ali further said.
Since the launch of the first trial of corn and soya cultivation in 2021, the industry has progressed at a rapid rate; so rapid, in fact, that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been projecting self-sufficiency in the production of this crop by 2025.
The sub-sector has also been able to attract the interest of more foreign investors. At present, there is a consortium that includes Guyana Stockfeed Limited, Edun Farms and Bounty Farm Limited. Other investors are Royal Chicken, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture, who are cultivating over 1000 acres of soya bean crop in the Tacama Savannah.
President Ali had said a few months ago that there is international interest in joining the cultivation of corn and soya. In the feed industry, Guyana imports close to US$30 million in products annually. The aim is to not just attain self-sufficiency, but also establish the country as a net exporter of soya.
The key stakeholders in the massive corn and soya bean project include the Government, farmers, and private companies. The Government has played a crucial role in supporting the growth of the industry with a commitment of over $1.2 billion to infrastructural development in the Tacama area.
Last year, the Government improved access to the area by constructing 40 kilometres of road, with the remaining seven kilometres scheduled to be completed in 2023. Additionally, the Government invested in a drying and storage facility for corn and soya bean which will be completed this year, establishing the first such facility in the country.
Notably, the Administration plans to invest some $150 million in the construction of a wharf in the Tacama area to further support the industry this year. The project will provide critical riverine access to the area under cultivation, making it more accessible for farmers to transport and export their produce. There is also a plan for the construction of a 3000-tonne silo and an 80 tonne per hour drying tower at Tacama – likely to be completed this month. (G3)