Rice- star of agri sector in 2013
The agriculture sector has made important strides in advancing in terms of expansion and modernisation, and increasing production levels, with rice topping the list with its historic 535,000 tonnes.
Rice shines
Rice scored another record-breaking production, with an output of more than 535,000 tonnes, a 27 percent increase over the 2012 figure of 423,000 tonnes. Production per regions were; Region 2-99,062mt, Region 3 -56,360mt, Region 4- 24,972mt, Region 5 – 207,509mt and Region 6- 147,652mt.
Exports amounted to about 395,000 tonnes, approximately 58 percent of which was exported to Venezuela, with the other significant buyers being Europe, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries.
Paddy, destined for Venezuela being being loaded at
a City wharf
Government’s support to the industry included $400M to procure urea from Venezuela, and to make it available to the farmers at about $5,000 per bag, supplying insecticide to combat the high levels of paddy bug, VAT exemption for farmers to purchase tractors and spares and investment in drainage and irrigation.
Support facilities
The Ministry of Agriculture embarked on establishing support services to enhance agriculture and in 2013 many of these initiatives advanced to a stage of operationalisation.
The Guyana Shop supports the Guyana Agro-processing industry by marketing and promoting agro-processed products. More than 900 products are on sale and more than 70 small and large scale producers are exhibiting their products within the shop.
The Bio-Ethanol Plant was established to support the development of the agro-energy sector. The demonstration facility, commissioned in August 2013, illustrates the production of bio-ethanol utilising molasses, which is then made use of by the Guyana Sugar Corporation vehicles.
A staff of the Bio-ethanol demonstration centre explains part of the process to President Donald Ramotar, Minister Leslie Ramsammy and other officials
The Veterinary (Animal Health) Laboratory progressed. ThisUS$2.5M investment will strengthen the overall animal health system and advance the livestock sector, while increasing production for local consumption and export.
Fisheries Sector
In 2013, a new Fisheries Management Plan (2013-2018) was developed to guide the sector following consultation with stakeholders in Regions Two to Six.
Further, a National Policy on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, and a Strategic Plan for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, both spanning (2013 to 2018) were achieved with the aid of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO.) The Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) began collaborating on efforts to achieve Marine Stewardship Council Certification, which would lead to improved marketability of products from the industry and increased traceability of seabob vessels.
Fingerlings at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture station
Revenue collection, as of November 2013, for inland fisheries amounted to $25.2M which is an increase over the 2012 total of $24.8M, whilst fingerlings sold by the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station during 2013 amounts to 45,285, with a value of approximately $663,990. This marked a sharp increase in fingerling sales from 2012, which were 9,647.
Livestock Industry
Livestock production continues to increase and decrease in tandem with demands of the Guyanese menu. Milk, pork and beef increased significantly in 2013, with percentage increase of 18.37 percent, 187.35 percent and 38.34 percent respectively. Milk production in 2013 was 46,483,93litres compared to 39,271,368 litres in 2012, pork was 571,962kg in 2013, and 199,048kg in 2012 whilst beef production was 2,262,373kg in 2013 and 14,635,374 kg in 2013.
However, poultry and mutton production decreased slightly and significantly in eggs. The 2013 poultry production of 29,280,260kg was 3.72 percent less than of the 30,412,761kg produced in 2012, whilst the 2013 mutton production of 125,551kg was 2.97 percent less than the 129,391kg produced in 2012. The 17,964,574 of table eggs that were produced in 2013 was a decrease of 15.40 percent of the 21,234317 produced in 2012.
Embryo transfer
In 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), introduced embryo transfer as a method to improve the quality of breeds in the livestock industry. In 2013, 61 embryo transfers were done and six calves born.
Twin calves born through Artifical Insemination
The GLDA imported 60 beef heifers and distributed 16 pure bred – Brahman – Zebu bulls, completed 2,291 artificial insemination procedures, using beef and dairy cattle semen, imported 12 pure bred pigs to begin breed improvement programme and produced 699 calves from artificial insemination. It also produced 180,665 genetically improved ducklings which contributed significantly to growth and development of the local duck industry, imported six Pure Bred Barbados Black Belly rams and five Pure Bred Boer Goats.
To maintain the disease free status of the industry, the GLDA carried out several disease surveillance activities including Foot and Mouth Disease public awareness, poultry disease surveillance (these included more than 1,000 farm visits pertaining specifically to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and visits to the recipients of breeding bulls and embryo transfer off-springs. At the Mabura Hill quarantine outpost; 570 stop-and-search inspections were done but no case of animal movement was reported.
Agriculture Research
The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute’s work programme for 2013 focused on promoting food and nutrition security through the transfer of appropriate technologies to the beneficiaries, as well as on furthering diversification of the agriculture sector (inclusive of agro-energy development). To this end, several initiatives were pursued through appropriate technology transfer activities including the Acoushi Ant Control Programme, and the establishment of demonstration farms for Black Sigatoka Disease management.
Under the Acoushi Ant Management Programme, to date, hundreds of nests have been treated in Regions 1, 4, 7, 8 and 10 and farmers were provided with the necessary inputs and provided with the training to manage the insects.
Technology was also transferred through training sessions that were conducted on crop production, practices, fertilizers and pest and disease management. More than 5,000 farmers benefitted from these training sessions.
