THE Government is moving to strengthen Guyana’s duck production industry, with plans to expand hatchery capacity and introduce measures aimed at increasing output, following consultations between Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and local duck farmers on Thursday.

During the meeting, Minister Mustapha said systems are being put in place to expand the capacity of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s (GLDA) hatchery as part of a broader strategy to support increased duck production across the country.

The Minister met with farmers to hear concerns affecting the industry and assured them that the Ministry of Agriculture, through the GLDA, would implement interventions to address the challenges raised.

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders to strengthen the livestock sector by creating an enabling environment for increased production, improved productivity and greater investment.

The planned expansion of the GLDA hatchery is expected to improve the availability of ducklings for farmers, supporting efforts to increase local production and meet growing market demand.

Also participating in the meeting were Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of the GLDA Board of Directors, Dhaneshwar Deonarine; Chief Executive Officer of the GLDA, Dr Dwight Waldron; and other technical officers from the Authority.

The engagement forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing consultations with livestock producers as it seeks to enhance food production, improve self-sufficiency and support the continued growth of Guyana’s agricultural sector.