–authorities to move ahead with $500M infrastructural upgrades for large-scale production

AHEAD of a massive plan to produce corn and soya bean on a large and commercial scale, local investors are pleased that their $45 million trial farm has shown positive and encouraging results, ahead of a September harvest. On Friday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha journeyed with the team to the Dubulay Ranch, located along the Berbice River, to get a first-hand look at the ongoing trial. “I want to compliment the team for what they have achieved so far. Both the corn and soya bean pilot plots look very encouraging, and I am very optimistic that this pilot project will yield exceptional results ahead of commercial and large-scale production of these two very important proteins for the poultry industry,” Minister Mustapha said. The project, which is being undertaken by a group of local investors, came on stream after President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced the government’s intention to be self-sufficient in producing proteins for the poultry industry.

The Head of State had also related that incentives would be made available for private individuals interested in coming on board with the government’s vision for the development of the sector. With Guyana now taking the lead on advancing the agri-food systems agenda in CARICOM, the government is keen on finding ways to reduce the country’s and CARICOM’s food import bill. Guyana currently expends close to US$25 million annually on proteins for the poultry sector.
The group of investors who have answered the President’s call include the owners of Guyana Stockfeed Ltd, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd, along with the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture. Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Limited, David Fernandes said that it was important for the team to commence trial of the two key inputs so that sufficient data could be gathered for the larger investment.

“This is a project that was initiated by President Ali, so we thought it was very important to rapidly do some trials that would give us data that was enough for us to continue to push towards becoming a commercial operation. We planted 115 acres of soya bean, and five acres of corn at this point. Those two crops will probably be reaped by the end of September, and then we’ll plant again in November,” Fernandes said.
He said that by November, the team intends to plant 125 acres each of corn and soya bean.
“So far, it’s been quite interesting and exciting for us, because the plants are now about four-and-a-half weeks old, and the soya beans look very good. The corn is still very young,” the businessman said, as he lauded the government’s push to become self-sufficient.

“…Because, with the pandemic hitting us last year, we realised that it was imperative for Guyana to move in this direction,” Fernandes said.
He also expressed optimism in the outcome of the ongoing trial, in light of the continued support being provided to the team.
Since taking office in August 2020, the government has taken steps to promote domestic cultivation on a scale that would enable Guyana to satisfy the agricultural needs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

EXPANDING AGRICULTURE
Minister Mustapha said that even though Guyana is an emerging oil-producing nation, much emphasis will still be placed on developing and expanding the agriculture sector. “As a government, we believe that agriculture is the backbone of a country’s economy, and we will continue to invest in the development of the sector. With the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen how vulnerable global economies are. As a government, we have been making the necessary steps to ensure all of our sectors are developed sustainably, thus reducing our economy’s overall vulnerability,” Minister Mustapha said.
The government, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, had taken steps to remove value-added tax (VAT) on agriculture machinery, fertilisers, agro-chemicals, and pesticides, making it more feasible for such investments.

+Further, in this year’s budget, an additional $500 million was allocated to improve the requisite infrastructure required for the large-scale corn and soya bean farms.
To this end, minister Mustapha said that infrastructural upgrades to the road leading to the Tacama Savannah will commence shortly, as part of the administration’s Intermediate Savannah Development Initiative.
“To facilitate production in the Tacama Savannah, we’ll be doing the 18km of road, drying floors and other facilities. As you know, access is critical when undertaking projects of this magnitude in these far-off locations. I am happy to inform you at tenders are currently out for the roads. That should be closing shortly,” Mustapha posited.

He said that tenders for other infrastructural works to accommodate the investment will be issued shortly.
“Access is critical, so we thought it best to get the road project up and running, but all in all, this will be a multi-year project. The ultimate goal is to first become self-sufficient then be able to produce enough for export to regional markets,” the Agriculture Minister said.

INTERNSHIP AND THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
Additionally, owing to the success of the trial farm, the government will soon embark on a joint effort, which will see students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) benefiting from training exercises at both the Dubalay Ranch and the Tacama site.
Minister Mustapha said that with the level of technology employed on the ranch, it would benefit the country as a whole to have students who are studying agriculture being exposed to such advanced levels of technology.

He said that his ministry has already discussed the possibility of having students from various learning institutions benefit from some form of internship at the ranch.
“This initiative will also be extended to students from the University of Guyana and other relevant agencies. When you look around and see the amount of work and level of technology being employed here, I’m sure our students will be able to learn a lot. Theory is important, but the practical aspect of agriculture is also very critical in ensuring all-round development,” Minister Mustapha emphasised.

Meanwhile, aside from the ongoing trial, Alex Mendez, who manages operations at the Dubulay Ranch, has been managing the cultivation of several varieties of corn which are exported to the United States, and used for seed and the production of new varieties.
The project, which has been ongoing since 2005, forms part of global projects funded by the Stine Seed Company. Stine Seed is the world’s largest private seed company, and the largest independent seed company in the United States.

Mendes further related that over the years, he has been able to provide employment for a number of women from the neighbouring communities. He added that with the new project expected to come on stream soon, more employment opportunities will be generated.
Over the next four years, the government will be working with several private individuals and groups to develop various mega-farms to propel production and reduce the annual food import bill in its entirety.
Corn and soya bean are among the commodities targeted for development under the ministry’s Intermediate Savannahs Development Initiative.