MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has announced that the ministry is looking to cultivate non-traditional ‘high end’ crops, on a larger scale, for export.

He told the Guyana Chronicle, in a recent interview at his Regent and Vlissengen Roads, Georgetown office: “Whilst we are  looking at the traditional things that we normally grow and trying to expand their production and export, I want to also bring in some of these high end products that people are importing that would bring in a good cost and that are easy to grow and easy to process.”
Ramsammy said produce such as rambutan and lychee, which are grown wildly in Asia and now in other places around the world, are hugely demanded in various countries.
He pointed out, for instance, that Costa Rica is doing large cultivation of rambutan and much of it is getting into the Caribbean market.
The minister said Guyana has to cultivate some of those that other nations are importing and try to get into their

markets, as well.

VERY SUCCESSFULLY
He noted that a few farmers on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway have been growing rambutan and lychee very successfully.
However, he has been meeting with various groups of people, like from the aquaculture, agro-processing and coconut industries, to discuss issues and ways of advancing their businesses.
Consequently, he said he will meet, in the near future, with the few farmers who are growing rambutan and lychee and interested others.
Ramsammy said it has been demonstrated that these crops can be grown under varying conditions as they have been in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Canal Polder in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
“So it shows that this product can grow in different environments of Guyana and so, having demonstrated it, I am now going to invite farmers and show them because this can be a huge export for Guyana,” he reiterated.
Ramsammy suggested there is no reason for Guyana to import lychee and rambutan which seem to be extremely popular.
He said, while looking to expand the existing options and increase production of those crops, much emphasis will be placed on adding new products.