-modern abattoir for Onverwagt, milk plant for Diamond

Government has tabled a proposed allocation of $17.1 Billion for the Agricultural Sector in 2019. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan yesterday said during his 2019 budget presentation that traditional agriculture has been and will continue to be one of the main pillars of Guyana’s economic development in fact it is forecast to contribute 16.2% to the Gross Domestic Product, in 2018.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation is expected to continue to introduce costreducing measures, explore lucrative markets and marketing strategies, and undertake critical capital works with sugar production projected to increase to 113,262 metric tonnes, in 2019 from the projected 98,000 tonnes at the end of this year.

Howeve,r he also noted that diversification efforts must be sped up to take advantage of available resources and solidify the transformation that is required for building economic resilience while prioritizing food safety and security, productivity, improved infrastructure, new value chains and value-added industries that boost investments in agro-processing, and institutional capacity.

Consequently government is investing in the infrastructure to support diversification including a new state-of-the-art abattoir, at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice which is slated for 2019.

“This initiative will see the reduction in the importation of meat and the realisation of Guyana‘s compliance with international standards for meat processing,” Jordan explained adding that new opportunities will also be provided to local farmers, to meet the demands of the local market through import substitution; and to entrepreneurs, who may be interested in business ventures within the beef value chain.

“We have commenced discussions with the Islamic Development Bank to create a reverse linkage project in livestock and Halaal meat. This will result in the transfer of improved livestock breeds to increase production and productivity of our beef stock. There is also the likelihood of accessing new markets in the Middle Eastern States for our Halaal meat products,” the Minister told the House.

He also stated that a leading Guyanese firm will in 2019 construct a new milk plant at Diamond, East Bank Demerara which will in time produce re-constituted pasteurized milk for the local market. This appears to be a reference to discussions this year with Demerara Distillers Limited.

Government during the New Year will conduct a feasibility study to establish a dairy value chain, through the supply of improved breeding stock to farmers, milk chilling stations and refrigerated trucks to supply the plant with fresh milk.

This is one of the ways government intends to work with the private sector to develop their agro-processing potential, to expand production and improve competitiveness. According to Jordan the New Guyana Marketing Corporation will expand its marketing services, by extending new services to support small, agro processors by providing guidance on acceptable practices, capacity building, and access to packaging materials.

“Interventions in this area will include the provision of low-interest financing for small business, for which another $100 million has been budgeted for the Small Business Bureau, in 2019. There will also be an upgrade of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards laboratory, in the sum of $71.3 million; and the establishment of an agro-processing facility at the Guyana School of Agriculture, in Region 2, at a cost of $37.5 million; and one in Region 1, for $20 million,” he said.

Government has also proposed measures to promote sustainable fishing through effective and efficient fisheries management. In 2019 efforts will continue to develop the technical capacity of the Fisheries Department to collect and analyse data, and monitor and surveil fisheries operations while farmers will be trained in improved aquaculture practices and exposed to available technology.

“With respect to marine fishing, there will be strengthening of systems to ensure improved quality of fish and fish products exported, regulated fishing, sustainable fishing practices and improved data collection,” Jordan said.

Additionally preliminary works have commenced to execute a national agricultural census, in 2019 so that the urgent need for up-to-date and reliable statistical information on food and agricultural activities will be fulfilled.

This information is to be used to develop sound policies and development plans for the agricultural sector as well as for monitoring and evaluation of development plans and projects.