Wednesday, December 27 2006

EXPERTS from the Animal Health Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture are expected to visit South American neighbour Guyana early next month, a Guyana Information Network Agency press release stated.

This team of experts will be conducting inspection of the Guyanese poultry depots and processing plants to facilitate chicken and beef exports to TT, according to the release.

Recently, Government announced its willingness to import chicken from Guyana and Belize to offset the high price of chicken local consumers have been facing following a steep climb in the price of corn feed in the United States.

Guyanese Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud was informed of the TT team’s impending visit and expressed Guyana’s preparedness for the inspection.

Persaud is likely to hold discussions with the TT’s Agriculture Minister Jarrette Narine and Trade and Industry Minister Kenneth Valley over arrangements for the inspection visit later this week.

Apart from potential chicken exports, there has since been communication between a Guyanese beef producer and a buyer from TT.

Additionally, both chicken and beef producers have assured that there would be adequate quantities of meat for export next year and that the Guyanese domestic market would not be affected.

Didco Trading Company Ltd owner Deo Singh, the largest chicken producer in Guyane, said he is awaiting written approval from TT officials to begin exports to that country in January.

The high price of corn and feed, driven by an increased demand in the United States, is being blamed by TT poultry farmers for their increasing the price of poultry.

This despite several meetings between the Poultry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) and several government ministers in a bid to keep the price of chicken at the lowest possible rate. (REPORT COURTESY STABROEK NEWS)