– as he continues to propel diversification
Guyana has the tremendous potential to gain financially from the cultivation of corn as many Caribbean countries import huge volumes of maize as livestock feed.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, made the disclosure yesterday while speaking at a seminar on corn production at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Mon Repos.
Minister Persaud said there is a ready market here, as well as an enormous potential existing within the Caribbean for corn.
He disclosed that Guyana imports over 50,000 tonnes of corn annually just for animal feed and some importation predictions have been adjusted to reflect greater volumes heading to the Caribbean region.
However, the Minister noted that “we must ensure we have the right techniques, the right varieties so that we can develop a viable competitive corn production system here”.
Guyana is currently engaged in small scale corn production and is conducting tests to determine the best variety suited to the matching soil type.
As for fuel generation, Guyana is not interested in using corn to produce biogas since it results in greater emissions.
Minister Persaud said the ministry has a mandate to ensure that small farmers are brought together, provided with the relevant markets, and linked to huge investors.
“I challenge every farmer to get involved in our diversification programme. Here lies the opportunity to depend on other crops. Farmers must not see themselves as planters but as entrepreneurs,” the Agriculture Minister stated.
He added that the market opportunities must justify the need to invest and corn has proven to be a lucrative venture, first to supply Guyana’s own food needs, that of its livestock, and to tap into the export market.
Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr Oudho Homenauth, stated that a corn production assessment has been ongoing for the past two weeks in several locations.
Dr Homenauth said a team of Brazilians is working with local officials to assess the soil type and matching weather conditions in East Berbice, Essequibo, and in the Intermediate Savannahs.
He emphasised that corn has a multiplicity of uses, including fuel production, animal food and human consumption.
According to Dr Homenauth, over $1B worth of corn is imported annually and this indicates a clear market for corn locally.
He added that Guyana is looking to source several new varieties out of Brazil, with higher yield and suitable to savannah-type conditions.
Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrande, during brief remarks, said that corn production is another link in the chain of technical cooperation between   the two countries.
He mentioned that Brazil is willing to assist in any other venture Guyana finds feasible as this will enable the diversification of the Guyanese economy. (GINA)