Guyana has both capacity and potential to have a vibrant, self-sufficient corn producing sector; but, over the years, the amount of farmers engaged in this activity has dwindled, along with the national production levels of this commodity.
While the country is forced to import large quantities of corn for the production of feed to cater to an ever growing poultry industry, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told Guyana Times International that, with the unavailability of the by-products from rice, corn now makes up as much as 90 per cent of the animal feed that is produced in Guyana. Most of this, he said, is imported from corn- producing countries, such as China and the United States. Presently, it costs $ 30 to mill one pound of corn into animal feed. The minister believes that this is a competitive price that can turn corn production into a viable industry. He said that, if more farmers were to engage in corn cultivation, the local production would negate the need to import corn for feeds.
Persaud said that, were farmers to use locally- produced feed, the price of the feed would be reduced to a level that would make not only the production of corn viable, but also poultry production.
In 2010, the agriculture sector recorded 561 metric tonnes of corn produced for domestic use, a disappointingly low quantity compared to the 1,336.67 metric tonnes that were produced in 2005.
The overall production rate in 2006 was 1,453.4 mt; and thereafter, the production reduced to 1,025 mt in 2007; 646.6 mt in 2008; 97.3 mt in 2009 (between January and June).
Guyana’s present corn consumption is estimated at 30,000 tonnes per annum.
Of this amount, 20,000 tonnes are processed by Bounty Farms Limited and Guyana Stockfeeds Limited for producing animal and poultry feeds. The remaining 10,000 tonnes are processed by other mills for human consumption.
At present, Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, has a group of farmers that produce mainly corn, which is dried and shipped to Florida.
The dried corn is used as seed for cultivation in that country. The produce is then genetically enhanced and used for domestic consumption. A farmer from the Kwakwani community has said it is feasible to plant corn in Guyana. However, because of the better price offered in Florida, that market is the preferred market.
Approximately 200 local farmers are involved in planting corn, and the agriculture minister said the ministry is encouraging private farmers to plant along the Soesdyke highway and also in the Rupununi, Region Nine.
Getting into corn cultivation is not difficult, the minister said. He noted that technical support is being provided by the ministry.
He added that, for undeveloped land (new lands used for agricultural purposes) that is used for cultivation, government provides an incentive of duty-free concessions for imported agriculture-based materials and equipment; and in some cases, equipment can be provided. Technical assistance is also given to corn farmers.
For the last three years, the United States of America accounted for 44 per cent of corn produced worldwide for food, seed and industrial use; and 28 per cent of corn produced worldwide for use as livestock feed over the same period. And with more countries opting for climate- smart technology and energy efficiency, the price of corn on the world market seems a stable high, Persaud said. Another use for corn is to produce ethanol, which is still being explored by this government to replace fossil fuel.
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