At COSALFA meeting…
MINISTER of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud has challenged the South American Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (COSALFA) to propose practical solutions alongside realistic projects and programmes that would lead to the eventual eradication of FMD in member countries and, certainly, see a growth of free trade amongst them. But he admitted that, for Guyana’s livestock industry to be competitive and successful, it has to be realigned to produce for the export market.
Mr. Persaud was speaking at the opening of the 37th Meeting COSALFA, Tuesday, in the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
Noting the significance of the event, he said the importance of COSALFA in today’s context cannot be understated, given how interconnected and interdependent it has become in this continent and across the globe.
Persaud remarked that all COSALFA members share common threats as well as opportunities and, in fact, their livestock sectors cannot be readily separated from others in their economies and, indeed, what is taking place worldwide.
Reflecting on the 2008 food crisis, the global economic slowdown and the persistent and challenges of climate change, he acknowledged that livestock farmers face difficulties as others in different sectors.
“Nevertheless, these recent events have not affected the general trend for livestock, which outlook is bright and demonstrate that this is a sector worth investing and working in,” Persaud said.
He said Guyana is free of FMD without vaccination, which is, in fact, an important requirement for the export of meat products of cloven foot origin and it, certainly, puts it in a favourable position on the world market.
Persaud posited that Guyana has a very vibrant livestock sector but lot more needs to be done for it to become one of the country’s big success stories.
Modernising
In that situation, he said the country has been investing in modernising its animal health system, which includes the human resources and has tripled the number of veterinary personnel over the last three years alone.
It has also been increasing its surveillance, especially, at its borders and deepening linkages with regional and international agencies while the State is currently investing in a state-of-the-art diagnostic facility, all part of the effort, Persaud informed.
He disclosed that the legislative framework is currently being modernised to include a Livestock Development Authority which, certainly, would be the vehicle to move the country further.
“While Guyana possesses great comparative advantages with regards to livestock rearing, such as vast expanses of arable land and pastures, possibilities to upgrade livestock, raw material inputs to produce livestock feed and cheap and available labour and, given our small domestic market, for our industry to be competitive and successful, we have to realign ourselves to produce for the export market,” Persaud reiterated.
He said increasing markets for livestock products in the Caribbean, where they enjoy duty free entry, is the most appealing option at this time.
“Our livestock sector, in fact, is at an important crossroad and this meeting, being held here at this point in time in Guyana, couldn’t be much more convenient,” Persaud stated.
Nevertheless, he said Guyana is serious about putting the needed strategies and investments in place and this is being done through an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded agricultural export and diversification project.
Persaud said it will also review the main input supplies, as well as target markets in a more strategic way and overhaul the whole production and sanitary systems.
He said, also, it will be looking at developing linkages along the supply chain to ensure those are maximised, as well as taking a cluster approach to the development of the livestock industry.
“But, very importantly, as members of this Commission, but members and part of South America, we have recognised, too, that, for our livestock and, perhaps, other sectors of our economy to develop, we require deeper linkages with our brothers and sisters in South America,” Persaud said.
Thrust
Against that backdrop, he said, in fact, the recent COSALFA thrust and emphasis has been looking at how it can improve and expand cooperation, not only in agriculture but also in other areas within South America.
Persaud assured that, from an agriculture standpoint, COSALFA is very serious about the continental destiny of its members.
“And we do hope that this meeting, here, would, certainly, reinforce that thrust,” the Minister added.
He said livestock rearing plays a very significant part in the economy of all countries represented at the meeting, with some more advanced than others.
“But the supply of affordable animal protein is very critical in an area where the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals are hard pressed to be reached,” Persaud remarked.
He also drew attention to the fact that rural communities depend on  livestock for their income and that it is now recognised that the sector can play a tremendous role in terms of revitalising them, generating employment and income and making a significant contribution towards food security.
Persaud said, according to some estimates, livestock supports the livelihood and food security of almost a billion people globally.
“The mandate before us, then, is to work hard together to ensure that diseases such as foot and mouth do not jeopardise the tremendous efforts that we have made and our farmers have made, as well as the future of those communities,” he urged.