 |
|||||||||
>> Download PDF of this Press Release September 27, 2006 The National Aquaculture Association of Guyana Announce Future Plans and Past Successes at the Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development Meeting GEORGETOWN—On Monday, members of the Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development action teams met to discuss past achievements and future goals. Representatives from The National Aquaculture Association of Guyana (NAAG) had much to report, including two pilot project aquaculture farms scaling up production to become export ready next year. East Coast Aquaculture, a 200-acre farm located on the Corentyne Coast is one of two farms currently ramping up their operations and production with a goal of being export-ready within a year’s time. Aquaculture operations on the farm began in 1994 with the production of swamp shrimp; East Coast Aquaculture has since added tilapia and freshwater prawns to their output. With assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project, work is currently planned to construct 15 one-acre ponds that will be used for tilapia aquaculture using supermales, a cutting-edge breed of tilapia with two YY chromosomes. As income is generated, East Coast Aquaculture plans to expand from 15 to 60 one-acre ponds. Von Better Aquaculture Enterprise, of West Coast Berbice, is the second operation with their sights set on the commercial production of tilapia for export. On land that was previously used for rice farming, the aquaculture operations commenced in 2005 with the production of hassar, and have since expanded to include tilapia. A recent marketing study on aquaculture in Guyana, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), showed that Guyana is in a good position to pursue the profitable organic tilapia market, and Von Better Aquaculture Enterprise is in a good position to pursue this venture. Work is also being done to improve locally made fish feed. Fish meal currently accounts for 60-75 percent of the costs involved in aquaculture and a locally produced feed would greatly cut overheads and increase profits. By-products of Guyana’s rice and fish processing industries provide the basic ingredients for fish meal production, but producers are not able to create floating feed (an element that allows one to monitor the fish’s feeding habits). USAID/GTIS is providing support to help secure an extruder, the device used to produce floating fish food. Another initiative involving the further exploration of aquaponics, an integrated fish culture and vegetable hydroponics production system, was also said to be moving forward. NAAG and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) are also working together in an effort to alleviate poverty by sharing aquaculture information with smaller sustenance fish farms in rural and indigenous communities. Due to declining revenues from traditional sectors and shrinking numbers of key marine species, focus is being placed on aquaculture as an important sector for Guyana’s future. A feasibility and marketing study were recently completed, showing that Guyana has good potential for large-scale, export-oriented aquaculture. The studies also revealed that aquaculture has the potential of growing into one of Guyana’s most profitable export sectors. Imports of tilapia to the North American Market have increased ten-fold over the last ten years. Tilapia is now the sixth highest consumed aquatic product in the United States. NAAG members represent all elements of the industry, including farmers, entrepreneurs, feed producers, members of the government (research and development), and non-governmental organizations. NAAG also receives support from various donor agencies, including USAID/GTIS. The NAAG’s mission is the development of Guyana’s aquaculture sector; their vision is, “Aquaculture is the leading economic sector in Guyana by 2015.” With assistance provided by USAID/GTIS, NAAG is also a member of the American Tilapia Association and the World Aquaculture Society.
|
|||||||||
