BRAZIL is supporting Guyana to develop its fast-growing aquaculture sector and another step in the collaboration is a four-day workshop which opened here yesterday to highlight ongoing initiatives to improve competitiveness and enhance production. The workshop on aquaculture at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in Georgetown is hosted jointly by the governments of Guyana and Brazil.
Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud, at the opening, called for closer collaboration among farmers for the development of the sector.
He said aquaculture is recognised as an important planner in diversifying the agriculture sector, as several pioneers are placing their produce on the local market and expanding production.
He further noted that the aquaculture industry is continuing to increase exponentially and this will create more jobs.
“More fish and fish products will become available for local and export markets and will contribute to the development of the economy”, he said.
To complement the growing interest in aquaculture, new farms have been developed as the government continues to work closely with small and medium scale farmers.
Persaud said discussions between the ministry and the local feed milling sector as it relates to producing aquaculture feed have also been bearing fruit.
“If you are going to have a viable aquaculture sector, feed production is very essential. So we have this integrated approach in terms of the vision for the sector, and through programmes such as these we can accelerate the realisation of the provision”, he said.
While lauding the Brazilian government for its continued support, Persaud added that over the last year-and-a-half the relationship has been very productive, especially in agriculture.
“If we look at what Brazil has been doing, we can look at different ways in which we can deepen cooperation in agriculture and I am happy to say that we have been able to complete five such arrangements”, he reported.
He said that under the cooperation, a cashew nut project in the Rupununi has been finalized and  four new varieties have been acquired so far. This will further complement and develop the cashew nut sector which targets hinterland communities, particularly in Region Nine.
Another component of the programme is a soya beans project, and according to Minister Persaud, 24 strains of soya beans have been imported from Brazil to be used in a number of trial plots especially in the intermediate savannahs. The other aspect of the project is related to corn and highland rice.
Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrande thanked the Guyana Government for its continued efforts to formulate ideas for the development of the two countries, enabling them to be more food secure.
“This shows the increasing ties between the two countries to further develop and maintain a food secure economy,” the Ambassador said.
Chief Fisheries Officer, Mr. Vivek Joshi committed to a well regulated, monitored and sustainable fisheries sector which will optimally serve the needs of Guyanese.
In working towards the sector’s vision which is to manage, regulate and promote the sustainable development of fishery resources, he said that to realise growth, the sector must diversify to see increased production of fisheries products.
“It is well known that our capture resources cannot be pressured any further, and the department is working towards increased sustainability in this regard. However, it is our aim for Guyana to achieve a sustainable level of production to competitively export aquaculture products,” he said.
He added that the Department of Fisheries is moving towards the achievement of short to medium-term goals which will see the adoption of modern aquaculture regulations, encouragement and support of increased private sector investment such as investment in new farms and hatcheries, and the availability of quality inputs such as feed.
The workshop also saw the participation of technical officers of the fisheries department and aquaculture farmers.
There are about 75 aquaculture farmers countrywide.