NARI unveils plans for beef, mushrooms this year
Stabroek News
January 4, 2004
Beef exports to Caribbean countries are expected to take off following the inspection of a small private abattoir in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) by a Caricom technical team, which is pending.
And according to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), this could be boosted in the future by a modern abattoir facility, once the project proposal submitted to the European Union and the Food and Agricultural Organisation is approved. In the meantime, Guyana is exploring the possibility of joint exploitation of an EU facility in Suriname.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) is gearing to continue developing the other crops sector through continued technical support in areas such as organic farming fruit production. According to a press release from Government Information Agency NARI will help farmers, including large scale fruit producers in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), increase their acreage under organic production. The agency will also introduce the Boer goat to local ranches this year.
NARI will also focus on commercial mushroom production with assistance from the government of China. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation and the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana signed exchange notes on this project in October 2003 and this will allow for a feasibility study and the training of local farmers by experts starting this year. Initial studies were undertaken by NARI to identify species that could be cultivated locally.
Meanwhile, a nursery at St Ignatius is to be transformed into a research and nursery facility to cater for both crops and livestock, the release said.