–gov’t eying diaspora markets – President Ali

WITH Guyana surpassing its production target of brackish water (swamp) shrimp, the Government of Guyana has revealed plans to boost the processing and packaging of the local produce to tap into the lucrative diaspora markets.

According to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the country is already exporting its local produce in bulk to the diaspora; however, he believes there is room to add value to the produce.

“We are now producing 708 per cent more swamp shrimp than we were producing a year-and-a-half ago, but we are still exporting it in bulk in the diaspora. We can add value by packaging and processing, and as we build out the aquaculture [sector],” the head of state said during a recent engagement with agro-processors and other stakeholders.

The government, he noted, has already outlined a strategic plan to not only increase the country’s food production, but also create an agriculture sector that is rooted in sustainability to meet both local and regional food-security goals.

“The true colour of Guyana is in our ability to produce and export food of high quality all across the region and around the world. You will realise that the emergent strategy and strong investment in the agriculture sector is to create an enabling environment; the space and the competitiveness that is necessary to position our country’s agriculture produce and product as a high-quality differentiated brand in the regional and international market,” the president explained.

He noted that already, the government is establishing regional and sub-regional food production hubs. These will see Guyana producing, processing and packaging commodities for its local and regional demands.

“We have a massive agri-investment plan that we are rolling out, and the plan is not only about planting and introducing new crops. It is critically integrated into the overarching economic framework,” President Ali said.

Currently, Guyana is leading the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional bloc in slashing its US$6 billion food-import expenditure by 25 per cent by 2025.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, in a recent interview with this newspaper, explained that the country was able to surpass its production target for brackish water shrimp in the roll out phase of the project.

According to Mustapha, the project which was first launched back in 2021 is now 70 per cent complete.

Initially, the ministry had set a production target of producing 10,000 kilogrammes of shrimp per month, but the farms that have been established are now producing 135,000 kilogrammes.

“We have started the production of fresh- water prawns at Onverwagt, and we have increased the production of brackish water shrimp there. In Berbice, we have moved the amount from 10,000 kilogrammes monthly to 135,000 kilogrammes and we haven’t completed the entire project as yet. It is about 70 per cent.”

“At the end of project, we would be producing approximately 120,000 kilogrammes but now we are 70 per cent into the project and we have already surpassed that figure,” Mustapha added.

Mustapha is now optimistic that when the project is fully completed production could increase to over 200,000 kilogrammes monthly.

In 2023, Guyana earned approximately $1.3 billion from the production of brackish water shrimp for the period between January to November of that year.

The ministry had recorded a total of 815,496 kilogrammes of shrimp being produced for the period between January to November. This showed a 49 per cent increase when compared to the 548,900 kilogrammes produced over the same period in 2022.

In 2023, Guyana saw the highest marine production in the past 5 years, with over 42,000 metric tonnes.